XN000022-1989-04-18 — Page 14

13

TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1989

HEAVY FINES FOR SAFETY OFFENCES

* *

PROPRIETORS OF INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ARE TODAY (TUESDAY) REMINDED OF THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY STANDARDS OF THE MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT USED BY THEIR WORKERS.

COMMENTING ON TWO Recent COURT CASES, A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID A CONTRACTOR AND A FACTORY OWNER WERE HEAVILY FINED FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE SAFETY PROVISIONS UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE.

IN AN ACCIDENT LAST YEAR, AN ELECTRICIAN ENGAGED IN DECORATION WORK WAS ELECTROCUTED AS THE EXPOSED LIVE PARTS

OF A DAMAGED CABLE FOR AN ELECTRIC HAND DRILL CAME INTO CONTACT WITH A METAL LADDER ON WHICH HE WAS STANDING.

AND

"UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (ELECTRICITY) REGULATIONS, ALL CURRENT-CARRYING CONDUCTORS AND

WIRING, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE PART OF AN APPARATUS, MUST BE PROPERLY INSULATED PROTECTED TO PREVENT ELECTRICAL HAZARDS AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE, SPOKESMAN SAID.

"THE PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR FOR THE DECORATION WORK SUBSEQUENTLY FINED $20,000 BY A SOUTH KOWLOON MAGISTRATE EARLIER

MONTH.

THE

WAS

THIS

IN ANOTHER CASE, A TEXTILE FACTORY WORKER LOST HIS ARM WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE SOME COTTON JAMMED INSIDE AN AUTOMATIC BALE OPENING MACHINE STILL IN OPERATION.

*

"AS THE INSPECTION WINDOW ON THE MACHINE WAS NOT PROPERLY GUARDED, PROSECUTION

TAKEN OUT AGAINST THE

THE PROPRIETOR, SPOKESMAN SAID.

WAS

"HE WAS EVENTUALLY FINED $20,000 PLUS $3,000 COSTS BY A TSUEN WAN MAGISTRATE FOR FAILURE TO EFFECTIVELY GUARD THE DANGEROURS PARTS OF THE MACHINE AS REQUIRED UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (GUARDING AND OPERATION OF MACHINERY) REGULATIONS.

"OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $30,000 UNDER THE TWO REGULATIONS, HE SAID.

"I

/14