XN000022-1993-07-14 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1993

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OWNERS AND WORKERS REMINDED TO OBSERVE NEW NOISE REGULATION

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A REGULATION THAT PROVIDES EMPLOYEES WITH MORE EFFECTIVE PROTECTION AGAINST NOISE HAZARDS IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS WILL COME INTO FORCE TOMORROW (THURSDAY).

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY REMINDED PROPRIETORS AND WORKERS TO OBSERVE THE NEW FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (NOISE AT WORK) REGULATION WHICH WAS APPROVED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN MID-JULY LAST YEAR.

ARE

UNDER THE REGULATION, INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING PROPRIETORS REQUIRED TO APPOINT COMPETENT PERSONS TO CONDUCT NOISE ASSESSMENTS AND DEMARCATE AFFECTED AREAS AS EAR PROTECTION ZONES WHEN ARE LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED TO NOISE HAZARDS.

THE EMPLOYEES

"A COPY OF THE NOISE ASSESSMENT REPORT, TO BE COMPLETED BY A COMPETENT PERSON, SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE LABOUR DEPARtment WITHIN 28 DAYS AFTER ASSESSMENT BY THE PROPRIETOR, HE SAID.

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WHERE DEMARCATION IS IMPRACTICABLE, FOR EXAMPLE 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 THE EMPLOYEES MORE CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED FOR HAVING PROTECTION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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THE NEW REGULATION DIVIDES NOISE HAZARDS INTO THREE DIFFERENT ACTION LEVELS.

IT

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

THE MAJOR REQUIREMENTS ARE:

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AT THE FIRST ACTION LEVEL, A PROPRIETOR HAS TO PROVIDE A SUITABLE APPROVED EAR PROTECTOR TO AN EMPLOYEE UPON REQUEST, EXCEPT WHERE THE WEARING OF EAR PROTECTORS WOULD BE LIKELY TO CAUSE A RISK TO THE SAFETY OF THE EMPLOYEE OR TO ANY OTHER PERSON;

AT THE SECOND ACTION LEVEL OR ABOVE, OR AT THE PEAK ACTION LEVEL, PROPRIETORS MUST PROVIDE AND EMPLOYEES MUST WEAR APPROVED EAR PROTECTORS, AND THE AREA IN ANY INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING THUS AFFECTED MUST BE DEMARCATED AS AN EAR PROTECTION ZONE; AND

WHERE DEMARCATION IS IMPRACTICABLE, AS IN THE CASE OF A CONSTRUCTION SITE, ALL NOISY MACHINES MUST BE LABELLED. EMPLOYEES ATTENDING TO THESE NOISY SUITABLE APPROVED EAR PROTECTORS.

MACHINES

MUST WEAR

/"SIGNS AND