XN000022-1994-05-12 — Page 36

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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1994

SAFETY AND HEALTH IN WORK PLACES URGED

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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED 20 FACTORY AND CONSTRUCTION SITE OPERATORS FOR FAILING TO TAKE REASONABLY PRACTICABLE MEASURES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF THE GENERAL DUTIES PROVISIONS OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE IN DECEMBER 1990.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY A SUPERINTENDENT OF FACTORY INSPECTORS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MR PANG KWOK-LAM, AT A SYMPOSIUM ON SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT HELD AT THE HONG KONG CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE IN WAN CHAI THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.

MR PANG SAID MANAGEMENT IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES MIGHT FIND IT COMPLICATED TO FOLLOW THE FIVE PARTICULAR AREAS OF DUTIES AS STIPULATED IN THE PROVISIONS, BUT WHAT IT ACTUALLY REQUIRED WAS A COMPLETE SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

"ALL MANAGERS HAVE TO DO IS TO APPLY THEIR MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES INTO THE FIELD OF SAFETY AND HEALTH, AND THINGS WILL AUTOMATICALLY FALL INTO THEIR PLACES.

"TO INCREASE MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY, IT IS ADVISABLE TO ADOPT A UNIFORM APPROACH BY INTEGRATING PRODUCTION, QUALITY, ENVIRONMENT, SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT INTO ONE SINGLE SYSTEM," HE ADDED.

MR PANG NOTED THAT UNDER THE GENERAL DUTIES PROVISIONS, EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE ALL WORK PLACES WERE SAFE AND HEALTHY.

TODAY'S SYMPOSIUM WAS ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S FACTORY INSPECTORATE DIVISION AND CO-ORGANISED BY SHELL COMPANIES CHINA AND HONG KONG.

IN

THE EVENT, WHICH ATTRACTED SOME 230 PARTICIPANTS, WAS SPONSORED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS.

THE CHEMICALS HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGER OF SHELL COMPANIES IN CHINA AND HONG KONG, MR DICKSON NGAI, ALSO GAVE A SPEECH ABOUT RESPONSIBLE CARE INITIATIVE.

ANOTHER SPEAKER AT THE SYMPOSIUM WAS MR LUI TIT-LOK FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT WHO PROVIDED ADVICE ON DISPOSAL OF CHEMICAL WASTE.

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