XN000022-1992-02-29 — Page 3

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1992

2

REPORT RECOMMENDS WIDE-RANGING IMPROVEMENTS

TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

* * * * *

CAN ONLY BE THE PROBLEM OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH TACKLED THROUGH TRIPARTITE EFFORT OF THE GOVERNMENT, THE EMPLOYERS AND THE EMPLOYEES.

ON THIS WAS STATED IN A REPORT OF THE JOINT STEERING COMMITTEE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY WHICH WAS SET UP IN MAY LAST YEAR UNDER MANPOWER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF A DEPUTY SECRETARY OF THE EDUCATION AND

RELATED TO OCCUPATIONAL BRANCH TO REVIEW THE MULTI-FACETED ISSUES HEALTH AND SAFETY IN HONG KONG.

COME UP IN

IMPROVEMENTS

AFTER EIGHT MONTHS' DELIBERATIONS, THE COMMITTEE HAS WITH 20 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LONG TERM AND IMMEDIATE SUCH AREAS AS ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANISATIONS, STRATEGIES FOR MONITORING, PREVENTION ASSESSMENT AND COMPENSATION AND REHABILITATION.

LEGISLATIVE CONTROL, AND ENFORCEMENT, DISABILITY

PRESENT

ADMINISTRATIVE SETUPS

OCCUPATIONAL

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE CONSISTING OF THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE DIVISION AND THE HEALTH DIVISION IN THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE OCCUPATIONAL AND HEALTH COUNCIL (OSHC), HAVE GENERALLY BEEN EFFECTIVE.

SAFETY

CLOSER INTERACTION PARTICIPATION DRIVE FOR

IT ALLOWS PLENTY OF SCOPE FOR DEVELOPING BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WITH BY EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES IN THE INDUSTRY IN THE OVERALL BETTER OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY.

AS THE EXISTING TRIPARTITE COMMITTEES HAVE SERVED RIGHLY USEFUL UP PURPOSES, THE REPORT HAD THEREFORE RECOMMENDED THAT THE OSHC SET MORE SUCH COMMITTEES AS WELL AS AN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH COMMITTEE AND A EMPLOYERS AND CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE TO BETTER EQUIP EMPLOYEES WITH KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE ON THESE MATTERS,

IN ADDITION, A COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE SHOULD ALSO BE

HEALTH OF THE ON THE COMMITTEE

INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND ADVISORY BOARD TO STRENGTHEN THE LINK BETWEEN THE TWO BODIES.

ΤΟ

REVIEW ANNUALLY

GUIDELINES

FOR

CO-OPTED LABOUR

DEPARTMENT ON LEGISLATION, THE REPORT PROPOSED THAT THE LABOUR

DISEASES, TAKING INTO OCCUPATIONAL THE LIST OF

DRAW UP CONSIDERATION DEVELOPMENTS OVERSEAS AND LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES; 231 THE

CHEMICAL EXPOSURE LIMITS ON OCCUPATIONAL

FACTORY PROPRIETORS ALREADY LISTED IN THE LAW AND ISSUE THEM TO ALL FOR THEIR

OF REGULATIONS TO COMPLIANCE; AND INTRODUCE A NEW SET PROVIDE FOR THE DEMARCATION OF NOISE ZONES WITHIN FACTORIES TO PROTECT WORKERS AGAINST NOISE HAZARDS.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEPARTMENTAL MONITORING TEAM ON CHEMICAL SAFETY; THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EXPERT WORKING GROUP, CHAIRED BY THE STUDY OF DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HEALTH,

COMPREHENSIVE TO CONDUCT OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES IN HONG KONG; 'THE SETTING UP OF EXTENSION OF THE COMMITTEES IN LARGER ESTABLISHMENTS AND THE

HAD ALSO

OFFICER SCHEME TO SUGGESTED.

OTHER INDUSTRIAL

UNDERTAKINGS

SAFETY SAFETY

BREN

/OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS