XN000022-1989-12-13 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1989

HE SAID HE COULD NOT AGREE WITH THE ARGUMENT THAT THE BURDEN OF PROVIDING AND MAINTAINING A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT RESTED ONLY WITH THE EMPLOYER.

"IT MUST BE IN THE INTERESTS OF EMPLOYEES ΤΟ CO-OPERATE WITH THEIR EMPLOYER IN MAKING SURE THAT ADEQUATE SAFETY MEASURES ARE TAKEN.

"AND CLEARLY EACH EMPLOYER HAS AN OBLIGATION TO AVOID PUTTING HIMSELF AND OTHERS WORKING WITH HIM AT RISK. HE SAID.

MR YEUNG SAID THE BILL WAS AN IMPORTANT LANDMARK IN THE FIGHT AGAINST INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS.

IT INTRODUCED A SET OF GENERAL DUTIES THAT WOULD PLACE UPON BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES THE RESPONSIBILITY то ENSURE THAT PRACTICES AT WORK AND WORKING ENVIRONMENTS WERE SAFE.

AND

MR YEUNG SAID THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSED TO GIVE EMPLOYERS EMPLOYEES SUFFICIENT TIME TO ACQUAINT THEMSELVES WITH THE NEW INDUSTRIAL SAFETY DUTIES AND THE PENALTIES PROVIDED FOR IN THE BILL.

LABOUR

"ACCORDINGLY, WE WILL ONLY BRING THE LAW INTO EFFECT 12 MONTHS AFTER THE BILL HAS BEEN ENACTED. DURING THIS TIME THE DEPARTMENT WILL MOUNT A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN TO EXPLAIN THE BILL.

"THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO ASSIST EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES IN PREPARING THEMSELVES. FOR EXAMPLE BY PROVIDING SUITABLE TRAINING IN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY PRACTICES AND ADVICE ON THE INTRODUCTION OF SAFETY SYSTEMS.

"THIS INCLUDES ENCOURAGING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF IN-PLANT SAFETY COMMITTEES,' MR YEUNG SAID.

"

CONCERTED EFFORTS NEEDED TO PROMOTE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY

THE PROMOTION OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REQUIRES THE CONCERTED EFFORTS OF ALL. THE HON MIRIAM LAU TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF *THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1989. MRS LAU SAID THAT THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF THE CUSTODIAL PENALTIES PROPOSED UNDER

BILL AIMED TO DRIVE HOME THE MESSAGE THAT INDUSTRIAL SAFETY WAS

RESPONSIBILITY

OF EVERYBODY.

"IF ANYONE SHOULD BLATANTLY DISREGARD THE HAVE TO PAY IS NOT ONLY MONEY BUT ALSO THEIR OWN

MRS LAU NOTED THAT THE BILL SOUGHT IMPORTANT CHANGES, STATING:

THE

THE

SAME. THE PRICE THEY LIBERTY, SHE SAID.

TO

14

INTRODUCE

THREE

"FIRSTLY, A