XN000022-1992-12-21 — Page 4

MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1992

3

INTER-DEPARTMENTAL EFFORTS ON MANHOLE WORK SAFETY

CONTROL

THE GOVERNMENT HAS IMPLEMENTED A STRATEGY TO STEP UP MEASURES ON MANHOLE WORKS TO FURTHER PROTECT WORKERS FROM POTENTIAL HAZARDS.

THE STRATEGY, MAPPED OUT IN THE WAKE OF FATAL ACCIDENTS INSIDE

JULY THIS SEWAGE MANHOLES IN

YEAR, WAS RECENTLY ENDORSED BY AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP.

THE WORKING GROUP COMPRISED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE WORKS AND BRANCH, THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN FOLLOWING APPROACHES HAD BEEN ADOPTED:

SAID

TODAY (MONDAY)

THAT

THE

* THE WORKS BRANCH IS PREPARING

SAFETY MANUAL INCLUDING GUIDELINES EACH WORKS CONTRACT;

A

GENERAL CONSTRUCTION SITE FOR A SAFETY PLAN FOR

* DETAILED SAFETY SPECIFICATIONS WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO CONTRACT CONDITIONS FOR FUTURE CONTRACTS WHICH INCLUDE:

(i)

(ii)

THE

COMPULSORY WEARING OF APPROVED BREATHING APPARATUS FOR WORKS INVOLVING THE CONNECTION OF NEW DRAINAGE SYSTEMS TO OLD, AND

NOTIFICATION OF DRAINAGE WORKS BY THE CONTRACTOR WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE WORK COMMENCEMENT DATE, INCLUDING TIME AND LOCATION, TO FACILITATE INSPECTIONS BY SITE STAFF;

OF

TO * APPROVED DRAINAGE CONTRACTORS ARE REMINDED THAT THE POWER

STOP WORK UNDER THE GENERAL CONDITIONS

CONTRACT CAN BE INVOKED AT ANY TIME IF DANGEROUS PRACTICES ARE PERSISTING;

* THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS PREPARING A SAFETY MANUAL WHICH INCLUDES THE SAFETY OF WORKING IN MANHOLES/CONFINED SPACES:

* A GENERAL SAFETY CHECKLIST, COMPILED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND ENDORSED BY THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT, IS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS AND SITE STAFF TO MAKE CHECKS

THIS

NATURE; AND

ON WORK OF

DEPARTMENT,

THE

* THE WORKS BRANCH, THE DRAINAGE SERVICES

HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL STEP UP THEIR CO-OPERATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. FLAGRANT OFFENDERS MAY BE TAKEN WILL BE REPORTED IMMEDIATELY AND LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THEM.

EFFORTS HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TO AROUSE

IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY EMPLOYERS' AND WORKERS' ATTENTION TO THE WORKING IN CONFINED SPACES.

WHEN

/THESE INCLUDED