SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1992
MANHOLE CONTRACTOR FINED FOR NEGLECTING SAFETY
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CONTRACTORS OF WORK INVOLVING MANHOLES ARE REMINDED OF THEIR STATUTORY OBLIGATION TO ENSURE WORKERS' SAFETY IN CONFINED SPACES.
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ISSUED THE REMINDER FOLLOWING A RECENT CASE IN WHICH A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY OWNER WAS FINED $3,000 BY A TSUEN WAN MAGISTRATE FOR ALLOWING A WORKER TO GO INSIDE A MANHOLE FOR DRAINAGE WORK WITHOUT TAKING APPROPRIATE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.
"FACTORY INSPECTORS DETECTED THE OFFENCE DURING A SPECIAL OPERATION IN TSUEN WAN LATE AT NIGHT," CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR CHAN TAT-KING SAID.
MR CHAN SAID WORKING IN CONFINED SPACES REQUIRED CAREFUL PLANNING AND BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES MUST TAKE APPROPRIATE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AGAINST POSSIBLE DANGERS.
"UNDER THE GENERAL DUTY PROVISIONS AND THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (CONFINED SPACES) REGULATIONS, PROPRIETORS AND CONTRACTORS MUST DEVISE AND ADOPT A SAFE SYSTEM OF WORK ΤΟ PROTECT WORKERS AGAINST THE DANGER OF EXPLOSIVE OR TOXIC GASES AND OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, MR CHAN SAID.
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"TESTING OF THE MANHOLE FOR THE PRESENCE OF ANY DANGEROUS GASES AND OXYGEN LEVEL BEFORE ENTRY IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE SAFE SYSTEM OF WORK, HE SAID.
MR CHAN ALSO STRESSED THAT SUCH TESTS MUST BE CARRIED OUT BY A COMPETENT PERSON WITH SCIENTIFIC MONITORING INSTRUMENTS.
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NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THE WORK TEAM CONDUCT SUCH TESTS BY DROPPING BURNING PAPERS IN THE MANHOLE, HE SAID.
WORKERS SHOULD ALSO BE INFORMED OF THE POTENTIAL HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH MANHOLE WORK AND MUST BE TRAINED AND SUPERVISED TO CARRY OUT ALL THE NECESSARY SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND RESCUE OPERATION IN EMERGENCY, MR CHAN SAID.
EMPLOYERS WHO FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE SAFETY PROVISIONS ARE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $50,000 AND 12 MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT.
"THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE IS ALWAYS READY TO OFFER ADVICE WORK SAFETY IN CONFINED SPACES. HE SAID.
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SAFETY TRAINING COURSES ARE ALSO ORGANISED BY THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE.
ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE TO THE BRANCH OFFICES OF THE INSPECTORATE OR
THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL, HONG KONG.
FACTORY AT 13TH
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