XN000022-1988-10-19 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1988

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BUILDING CONTRACTORS REMINDED OF SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) STRESSED THAT BUILDING CONTRACTORS MUST TAKE ALL PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE OF WORKERS ON CONSTRUCTION SITES.

A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT BETWEEN JUNE AND SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, EIGHT BUILDING CONTRACTORS WERE TAKEN ΤΟ COURT FOR BREACHING VARIOUS PROVISIONS UNDER THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS.

FINES TOTALLING $190,000 WERE IMPOSED ON the offenDERS.

SIX OF THE WORKERS INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENTS

WERE KILLED AND

TWO WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

THE MAJORITY OF THE FATAL CASES RELATED TO FALLS FROM A HEIGHT.

IN ONE CASE, A WORKER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES WHEN THE BOATSWAIN'S CHAIR IN WHICH HE WAS RIDING FELL FROM THE ROOF OF A BUILDING.

IN ANOTHER, A WORKER WAS KILLED WHEN HE FELL WITH A METAL-BAR CAGE INTO A SHAFT OF A BORED-PILE.

THE CONTRACTORS INVOLVED IN THESE TWO CASES WERE FINED AND $40,000 RESPECTIVELY.

$50,000

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT UNDER THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS, NO BOATSWAIN'S CHAIR OR SIMILAR EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE USED UNLESS IT WAS OF GOOD CONSTRUCTION, SOUND MATERIAL, ADEQUATE STRENGTH, AND FREE FROM PATENT DEFECT.

"SUITABLE MEASURES MUST BE TAKEN TO PREVENT THE CHAIR SPINNING OR TIPPING IN A MANNER DANGEROUS TO THE OCCUPANT, HE SAID.

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STRENGTH

PROVIDED TO

"THE OUTRIGGERS OR OTHER SUPPORTS MUST BE OF ADEQUATE AND PROPERLY INSTALLED, AND SAFETY BELTS SHOULD BE PREVENT ANY OCCUPANT FROM FALLING OUT,

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THE REGULATIONS FURTHER SPECIFY THAT FLOOR EDGES, BALCONIES, LIFT SHAFT OPENINGS AND OTHER DANGEROUS PLACES FROM WHICH A PERSON LIABLE TO FALL, MUST BE SECURELY FENCED OFF.

AS FOR SCAFFOLDS, THEY SHOULD BE MADE OF STRONG AND SOUND MATERIALS AND FIXED OR SECURED IN SUCH A MANNER AS то PREVENT ACCIDENTAL DISPLACEMENT.

ANY EMPLOYER WHO CONTRAVENES THE REGULATIONS IS CONVICTION, TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $50,000.

LIABLE, ON

ENQUIRIES CONCERNING THE REGULATIONS MAY BE MADE TO ANY BRANCH OFFICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S FACTORY INSPECTORATE DIVISION.

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