XN000022-1990-10-27 — Page 3

SATURDAY, OCTOBER

27, 1990

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GOVT DETERMINED TO IMPROVE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY: GOVERNOR

* *

IN

THE GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO IMPROVE HONG KONG'S RECORD THE FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH WEEK, SIR DAVID SAID THIS WOULD BE DONE THROUGH A SET OF NEW REGULATIONS WHICH WOULD COME INTO FORCE IN JUST OVER A MONTH'S TIME.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE MESSAGE SHOULD BE CLEAR ΤΟ ALL EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES ALIKE.

HE SAID MUCH HAD BEEN DONE IN HONG KONG TO PROMOTE GREATER SAFETY AT WORK.

THESE INCLUDED REGULAR AND INCREASINGLY-SOPHISTICATED PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS, REINFORCED INSPECTORATE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND TIGHTENED AND IMPROVED LEGISLATION.

HOWEVER, SIR DAVID SAID MUCH REMAINED TO BE DONE AND ATTITUDES STILL NEEDED TO BE CHANGED.

HE POINTED OUT THAT ACCIDENTS AT WORK COST SOCIETY DEARLY IN LOST PRODUCTIVITY AND HEALTH CARE, DESTROY LIVES AND IMPOVERISH FAMILIES.

**THEY REMOVE EXPERIENCED DEMORALISE THOSE WHO REMAIN.

PEOPLE FROM THE WORKPLACE AND

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"OUR ACCIDENT RECORD IS STILL FAR FROM GOOD, HE SAID, POINTING OUT THAT THIS WAS PARTICULARLY TRUE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WHERE THE ACCIDENT RATE HAD BEEN INCREASING BOTH IN TOTAL AND AS A PROPORTION OF THE WORKFORCE.

IT WAS THUS AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THAT THE "FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE" WAS AMENDED LAST YEAR TO REINFORCE OBLIGATIONS ON BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES TO ENSURE SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK.

PRISON SENTENCES WERE INTRODUCED FOR SERIOUS BREACHES OF THE REGULATIONS, HE ADDED.

"EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN GIVEN 12 MONTHS TO PREPARE THESE NEW OBLIGATIONS. THEY COME INTO FORCE IN JUST OVER A MONTH'S TIME.

FOR

BEEN

"WORKING SYSTEMS, EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES SHOULD BY NOW HAVE THOROUGHLY REVIEWED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MEET THE NEW

REQUIREMENTS.

/"IF ANY