XN000022-1994-03-25 — Page 13

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FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1994

INDUSTRIAL SAFETY LAWS ARE EFFECTIVE

AND

THE

USEFULNESS

CURRENT

AS LONG AS SITUATION,

THEY ARE LABOUR

NOT AFFECT ITS AND APPLICABLE DEPARTMENT'S CHIEF

THE AGE OF THE SAFETY AND HEALTH LAWS DOES EFFECTIVENESS

IN PRACTICABLE FACTORY INSPECTOR, MR CHAN TAT-KING, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

RATE OF

SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND HEALTH, MR

CHAN SAID: "THIS CAN BE REFLECTED BY THE HIGH CONVICTION THE OFFENCES BROUGHT TO THE COURT.

LAST YEAR, THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE TOOK OUT A TOTAL

AND PROPRIETORS OF THE CONTRACTORS SUMMONSES AGAINST UNDERTAKINGS FOR BREACHING PROVISIONS OF THE FACTORIES AND UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS.

OF 3,001 INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL

THE NUMBER SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 6.7 PER CENT OVER 1992.

OF THEM, 2.925 SUMMONSES WERE CONVICTED AND A TOTAL $17,222,150 WAS IMPOSED.

FINE OF

SAFETY AND

MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT THE "TOP FIVE" OF COMMON HEALTH BREACHES IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SIMPLE IN NATURE.

WERE

COMMON

OFFENCES

OR GUARD-RAILS

PROTECTIVE

DETECTED DANGEROUS EQUIPMENT;

TARUGUA

THE CONSTRUCTION

INCLUDED

WORKING

FAILURE PLACES;

TO PROVIDE

INDUSTRY, FENCING

HOIST

FAILURE TO ENSURE THE USE OF

FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUITABLE SCAFFOLD OR WORKING PLATFORMS; FAILURE MAINTAIN

SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS;

DANGEROUS PARTS OF MACHINERY EFFECTIVELY.

AND

FAILURE

GUARD

FAILURE

THE OFFENCES INCLUDED THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, IN TO GUARD DANGEROUS PARTS OF MACHINERY EFFECTIVELY; FAILURE TO MAINTAIN WITH SAFETY PRECAUTIONARY SAFE MEANS OF ESCAPE; FAILURE TO COMPLY NOTICE: FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUITABLE EXIT DOORS; AND FAILURE ADEQUATE SAFETY PRECAUTION IN THE USE OF DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE.

TO TAKE

"THE BLATANT VIOLATION OF THE BASIC SAFETY PROVISIONS WHICH ARE THE GENERAL APATHY ESSENTIAL AND YET SIMPLE TO IMPLEMENT REFLECTS

MR CHAN SAID. AMONGST MANY CONTRACTORS AND PROPRIETORS,

++

"THEY JUST TURN THEIR BLIND EYE TO THE LAW."

MR

CHAN STRESSED THAT THE LAW BY ITSELF COULD NOT ACHIEVE GOAL OF PREVENTING ACCIDENTS OR ILL HEALTH,

THE

IT

CREATE

IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES WHO AND WORK WITH THE RISKS RESPECTIVELY SHOULD TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN ELIMINATING THE RISKS.

"OF

COURSE,

LEGISLATION

ALSO

OF A PIECE OF SAFETY

THE RELIES

EFFECTIVENESS

ON

REGULAR REVIEWS

AND

UP-DATING,

WHERE NECESSARY.

/"THIS IS