XN000022-1993-10-17 — Page 5

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1993

INSPECTION CAMPAIGN TO ENHANCE FIRE AND CHEMICAL SAFETY

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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL LAUNCH AN EXTENSIVE FIRE AND CHEMICAL SAFETY CAMPAIGN TOMORROW (

(MONDAY) TO AROUSE THE ATTENTION

OF BOTH THE FACTORY OWNERS AND WORKERS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTING FIRE HAZARDS AND SAFE HANDLING OF DANGEROUS CHENICALS.

THE TWO-MONTH CAMPAIGN IS ALSO AIMED AT BRINGING DOWN THE NUMBER OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS INVOLVING FIRE AND CHENICALS, DEPUTY CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR, MR KAN HON-SANG SAID TODAY (SUNDAY),

BE

MR KAN EXPLAINED THIS KIND OF CAMPAIGNS HAD BEEN PROVED TO EFFECTIVE IN MINIMISING FIRE AND CHEMICAL RISKS IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS, PARTICULARLY DURING THE APPROACHING DRY SEASON.

DURING THE CAMPAIGN, FACTORIES HOUSED IN POORLY MANAGED BUILDINGS AND THOSE INVOLVING WORK PROCESSES WITH HIGH FIRE HAZARDS AND THE USE OF INFLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES WILL BE SELECTED FOR INSPECTION.

FACTORY INSPECTORS WILL EXPLAIN TO EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES THEIR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (FIRE PRECAUTIONS IN NOTIFIABLE WORKPLACES) REGULATION AND THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES) REGULATION AND HELP THEM IN COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS, HE ADDED.

MR KAN SAID UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (FIRE PRECAUTIONS IN NOTIFIABLE WORKPLACES) REGULATION, OWNERS OF INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS WERE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN ALL ROUTES OF ESCAPE SUCH AS DOORWAYS, PASSAGEWAYS AND STAIRCASES IN GOOD CONDITION AND FREE FROM OBSTRUCTION.

"EX1T DOORS SHOULD BE CONSTRUCTED ΤΟ OPEN OUTWARD AND MAINTAINED UNLOCKED OR UNFASTENED AT ALL TIMES TO FACILITATE SPEEDY ESCAPE OF WORKERS IN CASE OF FIRE, HE SAID.

STORED.

"

IN ADDITION, INFLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES SHOULD BE PROPERLY USED AND

IN PLACES WHERE SMOKING IS PROHIBITED, OWNERS ARE REQUIRED ΤΟ DISPLAY PROHIBITION NOTICES CONSPICUOUSLY AND ENSURE THAT NO PERSON SMOKES IN THE AREA, HE ADDED.

WITH REGARD TO THE HANDLING OF DANGEROUS CHEMICALS, MR KAN POINTED OUT THAT THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES) REGULATION REQUIRED THE CONTAINERS OF THESE SUBSTANCES

BE

ΤΟ

PROPERLY LABELLED TO INDICATE ANY RISK INHERENT IN THE SUBSTANCES AND THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS REQUIRED IN RESPECT OF THE SUBSTANCES.

EMPLOYERS SHOULD ALSO PROVIDE SAFETY INFORMATION, TRAINING, INSTRUCTIONS, SUPERVISION AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING TO THE EMPLOYEES WHO WORK WITH DANGEROUS CHEMICALS, MR KAN SAID.

HE

SAID FACTORY INSPECTORS WOULD DISTRIBUTE ΤΟ FACTORY A SPECIALLY DESIGNED WARNING NOTICE ON SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN HANDLING DANGEROUS CHEMICALS.

MANAGEMENT

/THE MANAGEMENT