XN000022-1987-11-23 — Page 11

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1987

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IMPORTANCE OF HEARING CONSERVATION STRESSED

THE CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MR YIP YUK-LUN, TODAY (MONDAY) STRESSED THE NEED FOR A WELL-ORGANISED HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAMME TO MAKE WORKERS AWARE OF THE TYPE OF MARM THAT EXCESSIVE NOISE CAN DO TO THEIR HEARING.

SPEAKING AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY THE ZONTA CLUB OF HONG KONG TO LAUNCH A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN AGAINST HEAVY NOISE IN FACTORIES, MR YIP WARNED THAT PEOPLE COULD ACTUALLY BECOME DEAF AS A RESULT OF PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO EXCESSIVE NOISE.

HE SAID THAT ALTHOUGH WORKERS KNEW THAT THEY HAD A DUTY TO MAKE FULL USE OF HEARING PROTECTORS, THEY HOWEVER HAD ACQUIRED A HABIT OF KEEPING THE EQUIPMENT HANDY AND WOULD ONLY WEAR THEM DURING INSPECTION BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR BY THE MANAGEMENT.

"I THINK THE ROOT OF THIS PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ON THE PART OF THE MAJORITY OF WORKERS ON WHAT THE 80-CALLED INVISIBLE HAZARD' CAN DO TO THEIR HEARING," HE SAID.

"I

:

SOME EVEN CONCEIVE THE PARADOXICAL CONCEPT THAT LOSS OF HEARING IS ONLY TEMPORARY AND ONCE THEY ARE AWAY FROM THE NOISY ENVIRONMENT, THE ABILITY TO HEAR WILL FULLY COME BACK.

"THUS, HEARING DAMAGE DOES NOT SEEM TO RECEIVE THE SAME DEGREE OF RECOGNITION AS OTHER INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS SUCH AS INJURIES BY DANGEROUS MACHINERY OR PERSONS FALLING FROM HEIGHT.

F

MR YIP CALLED FOR THE CO-OPERATION AND SUPPORT OF EMPLOYERS ΤΟ HELP MAKE THEIR WORKERS UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE HAZARD CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE NOISE AND TO BRIEF AND TRAIN THEM ON THE VARIOUS WAYS OR MEANS TO PROTECT THEIR HEARING.

NOISE

OF HEARING

SHOULD REDUCE THE LEVEL OR PROVIDE APPROPRIATE

IN ADDITION, HE SAID, EMPLOYERS IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT

PROTECTION EQUIPMENT FOR WORKERS.

THE CAMPAIGN, LASTING UNTIL FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 27), DRIVE HOME THE MESSAGE TO FACTORY MANAGEMENTS AND WORKERS IMPORTANCE OF NOISE ABATEMENT IN FACTORIES.

AIMS TO OF THE

DURING THIS PERIOD, "SAFETY AMBASSADORS" WILL BR VISITING FACTORIES IN KWUN TONG, SAN PO KONG, SHAM SHUI

KWAI CHUNG AND TSUEN WAN TO CARRY OUT HEARING CHECKS FOR WORKERS AND то DISTRIBUTE PAMPHLETS,

PO,

REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SOCIETY FOR THE DEAF AND THE FACTORY

INSPECTORATE DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO TO ASSIST.

BE

ON HAND

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