XN000022-1987-08-31 — Page 5

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MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1987

CONTRACTORS URGED TO WATCH OUT FOR UNDERGROUND. INSTALLATIONS

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) CALLED ON ALL CONTRACTORS AND WORKERS ENGAGED IN ROAD EXCAVATION WORK TO TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID DAMAGING UNDERGROUND CABLE LINES, GAS PIPES AND WATER PIPES.

THE

A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT MANY ACCIDENTS OCCURRED IN PAST AS A RESULT OF SUCH INSTALLATIONS BEING RUPTURED BY MECHANICAL EXCAVATION TOOLS.

"ACCIDENTS COULD BE AVOIDED HAD CONTRACTORS TAKEN THE NECESSARY STEP TO ESTABLISH THE EXACT LOCATION OR DEPTH OF THE UNDERGROUND CABLE LINES OR PIPES FROM THE RELEVANT UTILITY COMPANIES BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF WORK, HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED THAT THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN CARRYING OUT EXCAVATION WORK:

PREVENTIVE

MEASURES

MAKE TRIAL HOLES TO FIND OUT THE LOCATION OF INSTALLATIONS, IN PARTICULAR GAS PIPES;

UNDERGROUND

USE HAND TOOLS TO CARRY OUT DIGGING WORK WHILE MECHANICAL TOOLS SHOULD ONLY BE USED TO BREAK THE ROAD SURFACE;

PROHIBIT SMOKING AND THE USE OF NAKED FLAMES IF GAS PIPES ARE PRESENT IN THE WORK AREA;

INFORM WORKERS ABOUT POSSIBLE DANGERS AND SAFETY MEASURES: AND

EMPLOY A COMPETENT PERSON TO SUPERVISE WORK ON SITE ON A FULL-TIME BASIS.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO URGED CONTRACTORS TO FORMULATE AN EMERGENCY PLAN FOR UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES.

H

"THE PLAN SHOULD COVER FIRST AID FACILITIES, FIRE FIGHTING ARRANGEMENTS AND EVACUATION OF PERSONNEL FROM THE WORK AREA, HE SAID.

'ALL PERSONNEL ON THE WORK SITE SHOULD BE MADE CONVERSANT

WITH THE PLAN AND, WHERE NECESSARY, DRILLS SHOULD BE ARRANGED FOR THEM ΤΟ PRACTISE THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.'

THE SPOKESMAN WARNED, HOWEVER, THAT IN CASE OF GAS LEAKAGES, THE GAS COMPANY, THE POLICE AND THE FIRE SERVICES SHOULD BE INFORMED IMMEDIATELY.

HE REMINDED CONTRACTORS THAT THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ORGANISED REGULAR TRAINING COURSES ACCIDENT PREVENTION AND INDUSTRIAL SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

"PROPRIETORS OF CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES SHOULD ENCOURAGE RELEASE THEIR EMPLOYEES TO ATTEND THESE COURSES WHICH ARE HELD AT CENTRE AT THE 13TH FLOOR OF HARBOUR BUILDING IN CENTRAL, HE ADDED.

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FURTHER ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE TO THE CENTRE ON 5-8523563.

ON

AND

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