XN000022-1993-05-25 — Page 8

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 1993

7

-

SAFETY IN HANDLING SOLVENTS URGED

* * * * *

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) APPEALED TO CONTRACTORS AND WORKERS TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS IN HANDLING SOLVENTS THAT ARE OFTEN USED ON CONSTRUCTION SITES.

THE APPEAL WAS MADE BY THE ACTING CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR MR KAN HON-SANG FOLLOWING A RECENT INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT IN WHICH FOUR WORKERS WERE REPORTEDLY OVERCOME BY SOLVENT VAPOUR WHILE CARRYING OUT PAINTING WORK INSIDE THE LIGHTWELL OF A BUILDING UNDER RENOVATION.

UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES) REGULATIONS, ALL CONTAINERS OF SOLVENTS SHOULD BE LABELLED BY THE PROPRIETORS.

MR KAN SAID ALL WORKERS SHOULD BE ADVISED OF THE RISKS AND TRAINED IN THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND WORK PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE USE OF THE SOLVENTS.

"EXCESSIVE USE OF SOLVENTS MUST BE AVOIDED AND ITS QUANTITY SHOULD BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM ON CONSTRUCTION SITES," MR KAN SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT WORK INVOLVING THE USE OF SOLVENTS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN A WELL-VENTILATED CONDITION.

"SUITABLE RESPIRATORS SHOULD BE PROVIDED AND WORN BY WORKERS IN AREAS WHERE SOLVENT VAPOUR IS STILL AT A HIGH CONCENTRATION, HE SAID.

41

"ALSO, SITE CONTRACTORS HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE A SCAFFOLD FOR THE ERECTION OF A PROPER WORKING PLATFORM TO ENSURE THAT WORKERS CAN WORK SAFELY AT THE EXTERNAL WALL OF A BUILDING, MR KAN ADDED.

ENQUIRIES ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY MATTERS CAN BE FACTORY INSPECTORATE DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT 815 0678.

MADE OF THE ON TELEPHONE

EARLY INTERVENTION GOOD FOR HEARING IMPAIRED CHILDREN

*

GIVEN APPROPRIATE EARLY INTERVENTION AND TRAINING, IMPAIRMENT IS NOT NECESSARILY A DISABLING CONDITION IN THE WORLD, MRS PATTEN SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPEN DAY OF SUEN MEI SPEECH AND HEARING FOR THE DEAF, MRS PATTEN SAID MUCH COULD NOW BE DONE TO HELP IMPAIRED CHILDREN TAKE THEIR PROPER PLACE WITHIN NORMAL ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS PICKED UP EARLY IN THEIR LIVES.

HEARING HEARING

CENTRE HEARING SOCIETY,

/THE CENTRE,