XN000022-1993-07-19 — Page 5

BLITZ ON CAISSON SITE SAFETY

MONDAY, JULY 19, 1993

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL LAUNCH A TWO-WEEK BLITZ BETWEEN TODAY (MONDAY) AND JULY 30 TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF CAISSON SITES AND TO SPREAD THE SAFETY MESSAGE TO CAISSON WORKERS.

DURING THE PERIOD, FACTORY INSPECTORS WILL INSPECT ALL CAISSON SITES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

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"WE WILL CONCENTRATE ON HAZARDOUS AREAS WHERE FATALITIES AND SERIOUS ACCIDENTS MIGHT HAPPEN, SAID DEPUTY CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR MR KAN HON-SANG OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

THESE INCLUDED TOXIC GAS, INADEQUATE VENTILATION, LACK OF SAFE MEANS OF ACCESS TO AND EGRESS FROM THE CAISSON, FALL OF PERSONS, FALLING OBJECTS, AND SO ON.

MR KAN POINTED OUT THAT CONTRACTORS HAD THE OBLIGATION TO TEST EVERY CAISSON WITH SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT FOR DANGEROUS FUMES AND OXYGEN DEFICIENCY BEFORE ENTRY BY WORKERS TO ENSURE SAFETY.

"IN ADDITION, CONTRACTORS HAVE TO MAINTAIN SUCH TEST RECORDS FOR INSPECTION BY FACTORY INSPECTORS, SAID MR KAN.

NOTING THAT WORKERS WORKING INSIDE CAISSONS CAN BE SUBJECT ΤΟ POOR WORKING ENVIRONMENT, MR KAN SAID THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WAS DETERMINED TO INCREASE PRESSURE ON THE CONTRACTORS TO IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS FOR CAISSON OPERATIONS.

"WE TOOK A SERIOUS VIEW OF THE MATTER AND ANYONE FOUND NOT OBSERVING THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS WILL BE PROSECUTED," HE ADDED.

EMPLOYERS WHO FAILED TO COMPLY WITH A SPECIAL PRECAUTION NOTICE UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE ARE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $30,000 AND SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT.

"FACTORY INPSECTORS ARE ALWAYS READY TO GIVE ADVICE ON SAFETY IN CAISSON WORKS," MR KAN POINTED OUT, ADDING THAT ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE TO THE LABOUT DEPARTMENT'S INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE TEL 852 3555 OR 815 0678.

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