XN000022-1989-10-22 — Page 5

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1989

HEAVY FINES FOR SITE SAFETY OFFENDERS * * * * *

CONTRACTORS ARE TODAY (SUNDAY) REMINDED OF THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATION TO OBSERVE REGULATIONS ON CONSTRUCTION SITES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF WORKERS.

THIS FOLLOWED A NUMBER OF RECENT PROSECUTIONS AGAINST SITE CONTRACTORS FOR BREAKING VARIOUS SAFETY LAWS, RESULTING IN FINES IMPOSED ON THE OFFENDERS.

HEAVY

IN ONE OF THE CASES. A PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR WAS PROSECUTED FOR FAILURE TO EMPLOY A FULL-TIME SAFETY OFFICER FOR THE

244 WORKMEN HE EMPLOYED ON FOUR CONSTRUCTION SITES.

UNDERTAKINGS

{SAFETY

UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL OFFICERS AND SAFETY SUPERVISORS) REGULATIONS, A PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR, MUST EMPLOY ONE REGISTERED SAFETY OFFICER ON A FULL-TIME BASIS WHEN 200 OR MORE PERSONS ARE EMPLOYED ON HIS SITE OR SITES, AND ΤΟ EMPLOY A SAFETY SUPERVISOR ON A SITE WITH 20 OR MORE WORKERS.

THE CONTRACTOR

WESTERN MAGISTRATE.

PLEADED

GUILTY AND WAS FINED $2,000 BY A

THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME A CONTRACTOR WAS CONVICTED OF THE OFFENCE. WHICH CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE OF $20,000.

IN ANOTHER CASE, A CONTRACTOR WAS FINED $25,000 BY A CENTRAL MAGISTRATE FOR FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT ALL WORKMEN ON HIS SITE WORE SUITABLE SAFETY HELMETS, AS REQUIRED UNDER THE CONSTRUCTION SITES

(SAFETY) REGULATIONS.

A FACTORY INSPECTOR HAD FOUND THAT ONLY EIGHT OUT OF THE 58 WORKERS AT THE SITE WORK SAFETY HELMETS.

THE REGULATIONS REQUIRE A CONTRACTOR то PROVIDE SUITABLE SAFETY HELMETS FOR EVERY WORKMAN EMPLOYED AND TO TAKE REASONABLE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT NO WORKMAN REMAINS ON THE SITE UNLESS HE WEARS A HELMET.

A NUMBER OF PROSECUTIONS WERE ALSO TAKEN OUT AGAINST TWO OTHER CONTRACTORS FOR BREAKING VARIOUS PROVISIONS UNDER THE REGULATIONS.

THE CONTRACTOR OF A SITE IN YUEN LONG WAS FINED A TOTAL OF $50,000 BY A FANLING MAGISTRATE FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE GUARDRAILS AT FLOOR EDGES AND FLOOR OPENINGS TO PREVENT THE FALL OF PERSONS FROM HEIGHT.

AT A

ANOTHER CONTRACTOR WAS FINED $40,000 ON CHARGES OF FAILING TO PROVIDE GUARDRAILS FOR LIFT SHAFT OPENINGS AND FLOOR OPENINGS SITE IN SHEK WU HUI.

THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS REQUIRE ALL LIKELY TO CAUSE FALLS OF PERSONS IN A CONSTRUCTION SITE SECURELY FENCED. OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE TO A FINE OF $50,000.

PLACES

BE

то

+

15