XN000022-1988-05-25 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1988

MR BRIDGE ADDED THAT THE TREND OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE AND THE LEVEL OF RESERVES WOULD BE KEPT UNDER REVIEW AND, IF NECESSARY, FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS WOULD BE RECOMMENDED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CONSTRUCTION AND QUARRY INDUSTRIES WHICH WERE REPRESENTED ON THE

BOARD.

"THE FUND BOARD CONSIDERS THAT THE OPTIMUM LEVEL OF RESERVES SHOULD BE ABOUT 18 MONTHS EXPENDITURE AND HAS SET ITSELF THIS TARGET FOR THE LONG TERM,' HE SAID.

中帽

GIVING BACKGROUND DETAILS, MR BRIDGE SAID THAT IN 1979 OVER 1,600 WORKERS WERE SUFFERING FROM THE DISEASE AND THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE WAS THEREFORE ENACTED TO COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS,

PROVIDE

FOR MANY YEARS NOW THERE HAD BEEN REGULATIONS UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE WHICH OBLIGED EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE VENTILATION IN WORKING PLACES AND ΤΟ TAKE ADEQUATE MEASURES TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES FROM INHALING DUST.

THE

"IN 1986 WE INTRODUCED FURTHER REGULATIONS CONTROLLING CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH ASBESTOS IS USED AND PROVIDING FOR THE USE OF APPROVED BREATHING APPARATUS," HE SAID.

THE RESULT OF ALL THESE MEASURES HAD BEEN A VERY ENCOURAGING REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF WORKERS FOUND TO SUFFER FROM THE DISEASE AND SO QUALIFYING FOR COMPENSATION.

THE NUMBER HAD DROPPED FROM 472 IN 1982 TO 166 LAST YEAR.

(COMPENSATION) (AMENDMENT)

IN INTRODUCING THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS BILL 1988, MR BRIDGE SAID THIS WOULD PROVIDE FOR THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION FUND BOARD TO MAKE ADVANCE PAYMENTS OF UP TO $20,000 TO VICTIMS OF THE DISEASE OR THEIR DEPENDANTS.

HE SAID THE BOARD'S POWER TO MAKE SUCH PAYMENTS WAS AT PRESENT NOT EXPRESSLY STATED AND A SECTION IN THE ORDINANCE LIMITED ANY SUCH PAYMENTS TO ONLY $1,000 WHICH WAS OF LITTLE HELP TO THE VICTIMS.

'THE POWER TO MAKE ADVANCE PAYMENTS OF UP TO $20,000 WILL ENABLE THE BOARD TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE EARLIER THAN IS POSSIBLE AT PRESENT, MR BRIDGE SAID.

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"ANY SUMS PAID IN ADVANCE MAY BE DEDUCTED FROM THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION FINALLY ASSESSED."

ADDED.

THE BILL HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD, HE

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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