XN000022-1988-02-18 — Page 5

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1988

OF THE WORKERS TESTED, 176 WERE FROM THE TEXTILES, 96 FROM THE SHIPBUILDING/SHIP REPAIRING, 43 FROM THE CONSTRUCTION AND 42 FROM THE METAL INDUSTRIES. WORKERS IN THE ELECTRONICS AND PLASTICS INDUSTRIES WILL ALSO BE TESTED.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) SAID NO SEVERE CASES OR LOSS OF HEARING HAD 90 FAR BEEN DETECTED BUT THE FINAL RESULTS WOULD NOT BE KNOWN UNTIL THE PROGRAMME ENDED IN AUGUST THIS YEAR.

HE CALLED ON FACTORY PROPRIETORS AND WORKERS TO TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF HEARING LOSS DUE TO INDUSTRIAL NOISE.

"IF THE PROPRIETOR OF AN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING FINDS THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM IN ANY PART OF HIS WORKPLACE, HE SHOULD TAKE STEPS TO MEASURE THE NOISE LEVEL, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"

"HE CAN ALSO REQUEST THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTME:T FOR ASSISTANCE.'

UNDER THE CURRENT HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAMME, SEVERE CASES OF 1033 OF HEARING DISCOVERED IN THE COURSE OF FACTORY VISITS WILL BE REFERRED TO THE PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL FOR ASSESSMENT.

THE COST OF THE PROGRAMME, ESTIMATED AT $200,000, IS FUNDED THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS.

BY

THE OCCUPATIONAL

HEALTH UNIT OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY'S DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MEASURING THE ACUITY OF WORKERS.

THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE DIVISION IS TO ARRANGE APPROPRIATE INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS FOR THE PROGRAMME, CONDUCT NOISE SURVEYS AND GIVE ADVICE AND SUGGESTIONS TO FACTORY PROPRIETORS TO REDUCE THE NOISE LEVELS IN THEIR WORKPLACES.

AT THE END OF THE PROGRAMME, A REPORT WILL BE COMPILED AND FORWARDED TO THE RELEVANT ORGANISATIONS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS FOR REFERENCE.

MORE MADE USE OF CNTA'S PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE

THE 67 PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION (CNTA) HANDLED 6,463,000 CASES LAST YEAR, REPRESENTING A 6.1 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE FIGURE FOR 1986.

A CNTA SPOKESMAN SAID THE 67 CENTRES. LOCATED CONVENIENTLY AT THE 19 DISTRICT OFFICES AND THEIR SUB-OFFICES AS WELL AS AT THE ADMINISTRATION'S HEADQUARTERS IN TSIM SHA TSUI, PROVIDED A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.

/THE SERVICES