XN000022-1988-12-04 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1988

SUBSTANCES

ARE CLASSIFIED TOXIC, CORROSIVE, FLAMMABLE

UNDER THE REGULATIONS, THESE ACCORDING TO SEVEN TYPES OF BASIC RISK EXPLOSIVE, OXIDISING, IRRITANT AND HARMFUL.

THE CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MR YIP YUK-LUN, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT FROM DECEMBER 15 EVERY CONTAINER HOLDING A LISTED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE MUST BE LABELLED IN THE T'ORM PRESCRIBED BY THE SECOND SCHEDULE OF THE REGULATIONS.

BE

"THE PROPRIETOR OF A SPECIFIED INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING WOULD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CLASSIFICATION AND LABELLING OF THOSE DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES USED, HANDLED OR STORED IN HIS WORKPLACE, MR YIP SAID.

"EACH LABEL SHOULD CONTAIN, IN CHINESE AND ENGLISH, THE CHEMICAL NAME OR COMMON NAME OF THE SUBSTANCE; THE CLASSIFICATION, RISK DESCRIPTION AND SAFETY INFORMATION OF THE SUBSTANCE; AND A STANDARD SYMBOL INDICATING THE CLASS OF RISK.

"IN ADDITION, THE PROPRIETOR IS ALSO REQUIRED то PROVIDE EMPLOYEES WITH INFORMATION ON THE HAZARDS AND THE PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY IN HANDLING THESE SUBSTANCES; AND TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS, TRAINING AND SUITABLE PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT TO EMPLOYEES EXPOSED TO SUCH SUBSTANCES.

"THE PROPRIETOR HAS TO ENSURE THAT THE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT ARE PROPERLY USED.

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UNDER THE LAW, EMPLOYEES HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY то USE THE PROTECTIVE CLOTHING OR EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY THE EMPLOYER IN A PROPER MANNER, AND TO REFRAIN FROM EATING, DRINKING OR SMOKING IN A WORKROOM IN WHICH DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES ARE USED.

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"THE MAXIMUM PENALTIES PRESCRIBED FOR OFFENCES COMMITTED PROPRIETOR RANGE FROM $20,000 TO $30,000 WHILE THOSE FOR OFFENCES BY AN EMPLOYEE ARE $10,000," MR YIP SAID.

HAS

THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT PUBLISHED REFERENCE MATERIALS, TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND LITERATURE ON THE SUBJECT.

THESE INCLUDE A REFERENCE BOOKLET ENTITLED CLASSIFICATION AND LABELLING OF DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES COMMONLY USED IN INDUSTRY FOR EMPLOYERS OF INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS; AND A GUIDE TO THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES) REGULATIONS.

THERE ARE ALSO TWO ILLUSTRATIVE LEAFLETS ON THE SUBJECT FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

"THE MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE FREE FROM THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE ON THE 13TH FLOOR OF HARBOUR BUILDING IN CENTRAL, AND ALL BRANCH OFFICES OF THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE DIVISION.

/A LIMITEL.