XN000022-1993-11-10 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1993

THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT ALREADY HAS A COMPLIANCE SCHEDULE AGAINST WHICH THEIR CONTRACTORS' PERFORMANCE ON SAFETY 18 MONITORED.

AS FOR AIRPORT CORE PROJECTS (ACP) CONTRACTS, AN ACP SAFETY MANUAL HAS BEEN INTRODUCED REQUIRING CONTRACTORS TO PRODUCE AND COMPLY WITH COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY PLANS.

UNDER THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT, THE ENGINEER OF AN ACP CONTRACT AWARDED AFTER JULY 1992 HAS THE POWER TO STOP WORK IF THE SAFETY PLAN IS NOT BRING IMPLEMENTED PROPERLY.

MR LAM SAID SIMILAR REQUIREMENTS WERE BBING INTRODUCED INCREMENTALLY FOR THE REST OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, STARTING WITH THE LARGEST AND MOST COMPLEX CONTRACTS.

HE ALSO REVEALED THAT THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 25,138 INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN 1990, 23,115 IN 1991 AND 18,815 IN 1992.

BITES

OF THESE, 4,943 (19.7%) TOOK PLACE ON CONSTRUCTION ENGAGED IN GOVERNMENT PROJECTS IN 1990, 4,169 (18%) IN 1991 AND 3,221 (17.1%) LAST YEAR.

SEVEN PERSONS PROSECUTED FOR MISUSING FIRE HOSES

SEVEN PERSONS WERE PROSECUTED FOR MISUSING FIRE HOSES BETWEEN OCTOBER LAST YEAR AND SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR JAMES BLAKE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ZACHARY WONG WAI-YIN, MR BLAKE SAID ALL THESE PERSONS WERE CONVICTED AND THE PENALTY RANGED FROM $700 To $5,000.

HE SAID THE MOST PRACTICAL WAY OF DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM Is THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION.

"WARNING NOTICES ARE PUT UP NEAR THE INSTALLATIONS AND WIDELY PUBLICISED IN ESTATE NEWSLETTERS AND SO ON TO REMIND TENANTS OF PROPER USE OF FIRE HOSES.

"AS PART OF THE ON-GOING PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN, THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS INCLUDED EDUCATING THE PUBLIC NOT TO MISUSE FIRE HOSES AND OTHER FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS.

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IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO ENCOURAGED DEVELOPERS TO INSTALL MORE CONVENIENT DRAW-OFF TAPS TO PROVIDE METERED WATER FOR FLOOR CLEANSING OR CAR WASHING, THUS DISCOURAGING PEOPLE FROM ABUSING FIRE HOSES FOR THESE PURPOSES.

НЕ SAID ANY MISUSE DETECTED WOULD BE STOPPED AND APPROPRIATE ACTIONS, INCLUDING WARNINGS AND PROSECUTIONS, WOULD BE TAKEN.

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