XN000022-1993-06-18 — Page 3

I

ON

2

FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1993

WESTERN HARBOUR CROSSING FRANCHISE

* *

COMMENTING ON THE WESTERN HARBOUR CROSSING FRANCHISE, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY): "WE WELCOME THE AGREEMENT IN THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE ON THE FRANCHISE FOR THE WESTERN HARBOUR

CROSSING.'

"

"THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME, AND WE NOW NEED TO PRESS AHEAD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THE CROSSING CAN BE COMPLETED ON TIME BY THE PROPOSED FRANCHISEE, THE WESTERN HARBOUR TUNNEL COMPANY LTD.

COUNCIL

"THE NEXT STEP IS TO PUT A DRAFT BILL TO THE EXECUTIVE AND THEN TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR THE AWARD OF THE FRANCHISE.

—

A

NEW REGULATION TO PROTECT WORKERS FROM NOISE

*

REGULATION THAT PROVIDES

EMPLOYEES WITH MORE EFFECTIVE PROTECTION AGAINST NOISE HAZARDS IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS WILL COME INTO FORCE ON JULY 15 (THURSDAY),

-

TAT CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MR CHAN KING, SAID THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (NOISE AT WORK) REGULATION WAS APPROVED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN MID-JULY LAST YEAR,

THE COMMENCEMENT NOTICE OF THE REGULATION ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

UNDER THE REGULATION, INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING PROPRIETORS ARE REQUIRED ΤΟ CONDUCT NOISE LEVEL ASSESSMENTS AND DEMARCATE ARRAS AFFECTED BY EXCESSIVE NOISE AS EAR PROTECTION ZONES.

WHERE

DEMARCATION IS IMPRACTICABLE, FOR EXAMPLE ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE WHERE NOISY MACHINES ARE BEING MOVED AROUND QUITE FREQUENTLY, THE REGULATION REQUIRES PROPRIETORS TO LABEL THE NOISY MACHINES INDICATING THE DISTANCE WITHIN WHICH EAR PROTECTORS MUST BE WORN.

"DEMARCATION AND LABELLING WILL MAKE PROPRIETORS AND EMPLOYEES MORE CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED FOR PROTECTIVE MEASURES AND WILL ALSO SERVE AS WARNINGS TO VISITORS WHO MIGHT WISH TO ENTER THE NOISY ZONE.

"THE NEW REGULATION DIVIDES NOISE HAZARDS INTO THREE DIFFERENT ACTION LEVELS IN LINE WITH SIMILAR CLASSIFICATIONS USED IN THE NOISE AT WORK REGULATIONS 1989 IN THE UNITED KINGDOM," HE ADDED.

IT ALSO SPELLS OUT THE DUTIES OF PROPRIETORS AND EMPLOYEES AT THE RESPECTIVE ACTION LEVELS.

/THE MAJOR