XN000022-1993-11-19 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1993

"WE ALSO CHECKED ON THE SAFE USE OF LIFTING APPLIANCES AND LIFTING GEARS AND THE USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT SUCH AS SAFETY BELTS AND HELMETS.

"AS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SAFETY OF SCAFFOLDS IS ONE OF THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE'S MAIN TARGETS THIS YEAR, FACTORY INSPECTORS EXERCISED GREAT VIGILANCE ON OFFENCES RELATING TO UNSAFE AND SUB- STANDARD SCAFFOLDS.

"APART FROM THE HIGH-RISK AREAS, ATTENTION WAS PAID ON THE HOUSEKEEPING ON THE SITES, THE IMPROVEMENT OF WHICH WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT IN AVOIDING ACCIDENTS, HE SAID.

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MR CHAN SAID FACTORY INSPECTORS HAD GIVEN SAFETY ADVICE TO 254 SUB-CONTRACTORS AND ENFORCEMENT ACTION WAS TAKEN OUT AGAINST 185 SITES FOR SERIOUS BREACHES OF SAFETY REGULATIONS.

A TOTAL OF 354 SUMMONSES, INCLUDING 12 SUMMONSES AGAINST 10 CAISSON SITES, WERE ISSUED.

AMONG THE SUMMONSES, 227 WERE OFFENCES RELATED TO FALL FROM A HEIGHT, 50 RELATED TO THE SAFE USE OF MACHINERY INCLUDING WOODWORKING MACHINES, LIFTING APPLIANCES AND LIFTING GEARS, AND 10 ON ELECTRICAL SAFETY.

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ANOTHER 40 SUMMONSES WERE TAKEN OUT AGAINST CONTRACTORS FAILING TO ENSURE WORKERS WEAR SAFETY HELMETS, 20 SUMMONSES FAILING TO ENSURE WORKERS WEAR EYE-PROTECTORS, FOUR FOR FAILURE ΤΟ PROVIDE EYE-PROTECTORS TO WORKERS AND ONE ON SAFE HOUSEKEEPING.

"THERE ARE ALSO TWO SUMMONSES AGAINST WORKERS FOR NOT WEARING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY THE CONTRACTOR, HE SAID.

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UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS, IT IS THE DUTY OF THE EMPLOYERS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF WORKERS BY PROVIDING AND MAINTAINING A SAFE WORKING PLACE, THE CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR REITERATED.

HE ADDED THAT WORKERS MUST ALSO CO-OPERATE WITH EMPLOYERS AND USE THE REQUIRED SAFETY EQUIPMENT TO AVOID BEING INJURED.

"OUR INSPECTORS WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON THE SITUATION AND WILL MOUNT MORE OPERATIONS, IF NECESSARY, TO SEE TO IT THE SAFETY LAW IS BEING OBSERVED, HE SAID.

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"UNSCRUPULOUS CONTRACTORS AND WORKERS WHO CHOOSE ΤΟ TURN A BLIND EVE то THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW WILL BE PROSECUTED," HE SAID.

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