XN000022-1994-06-28 — Page 8

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 1994

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SAFETY ADVICE DURING WORLD CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT

EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES IN THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR ARE ADVISED TO TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID ANY ADVERSE EFFECT ON THEIR SAFETY ALERTNESS RESULTING FROM INSUFFICIENT REST DUE TO LATE NIGHT WATCHING OF THE WORLD CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT.

"WITH THE FEVER GENERATED BY THE WIDELY TELEVISED WORLD CUP SOCCER, THE SAFETY ALERTNESS AND PERFORMANCE OF WORKERS MAY BE AFFECTED AS THEY RETURN TO WORK FROM LATE NIGHT WATCHING OF THE MATCHES, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR MR CHAN TAT- KING SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

"THIS MAY IN TURN MAKE WORKERS MORE PRONE ΤΟ ACCIDENTS ESPECIALLY IF THEY LACK SUFFICIENT SLEEP OR REST FOR A PROLONG PERIOD AS THE SOCCER MATCHES WILL CONTINUE FOR QUITE SOME TIME," HE SAID.

MR CHAN NOTED THAT IT WOULD BE QUITE UNREALISTIC TO ASK WORKERS то CUT SHORT OR GIVE UP THEIR APPARENT HABIT OF WATCHING SOMETHING THEY ARE INTERESTED,

NEVERTHELESS, EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES ARE ABLE TO MAKE APPROPRIATE ARRANEGEMENTS TO MINIMISE THE ADVERSE EFFECT.

ON THE MANAGEMENT SIDE, MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT THE FOLLOWING MEASURES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED :

* STEP UP SUPERVISION ESPECIALLY ON THOSE WHO ARE ENGAGED IN

HIGH RISK

JOBS SUCH AS WORKING AT HEIGHT; CONCENTRATION-DEMANDING OPERATIONS LIKE DRIVING OF CRANES, HEAVY MACHINERY AND TRUCKS; AND CAISSON WORK;

*

*

*

RE-SCHEDULE, IF POSSIBLE, MORE HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS AT A LATER DATE WHEN THE "FEVER" IS GONE OR AT LEAST DIMINISHING;

ASSIGN ONLY WORKERS WHO HAVE SUFFICIENT REST TO JOBS WHICH REQUIRE SPECIAL CAUTION OF CARE OR HIGH CONCENTRATION OF MIND;

SERVE MORE WARNINGS AT WORK PLACES BY MEANS OF SUITABLE POSTERS OR

CANTEEN TO

SPECIAL NOTICES, OR SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS AT REMIND WORKERS OF THE HAZARDS AND TO UPKEEP THEIR MENTAL ALERTNESS TO SAFEGUARD THEMSELVES; AND

WHEN RUSH WORK ORDERS CANNOT BE AVOIDED, MAKE SURE ALL WORKERS INVOLVED ARE WELL-COMPOSED, WIDE AWAKE, FIT AND REFRESHING.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD WORKERS BE ALLOWED OR FORCED то STRETCH THEMSELVES BY WORKING EXTRA HOURS OR GOING BEYOND MORB THAN ONE SHIFT.

"ON THE OTHER HAND, WORKERS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE SUFFICIENT REST BEFORE WATCHING THE TELEVISION BROADCAST, MR CHAN SAID.

וז

"THEY MAY ALSO CONSIDER TAPING THE PROGRAMMES SQ THAT THEY COULD WATCH THEM AT A MORE CONVENIENT TIME, HE ADDED,

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