XN000022-1996-06-18 — Page 2

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Action plan to enhance industrial safety drawn up

A 12-point strategy aimed at ensuring industrial safety was drawn up at a high- level inter-departmental meeting held this (Tuesday) morning.

Chaired by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph W P Wong, the meeting aimed at ensuring proper co-ordination within the Government and exploring the need for additional preventive measures on industrial safety following the recent spate of industrial accidents.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Mr Wong outlined the package of measures which would be targeted at three main high-risk areas: work at height, construction sites and confined areas.

The 12-point strategy is:

The Labour Department will step up inspections over the next few weeks of high-risk construction sites and industrial undertakings and, in particular, those with previous unsatisfactory industrial records. All Factory Inspectors will be mobilised for the blitz.

The department will step up prosecution actions against offending contractors and sub-contractors. Prosecution figures will be published regularly to arouse public awareness.

The Labour Department will monitor closely the results of court cases relating to industrial safety. If the department considers the sentence of any particular case inadequate, it will ask the Attorney General to seek a review of the sentence.

A telephone hotline 2815 0678 has been set up in the Labour Department to handle complaints against industrial and occupational hazards and any breach of industrial safety requirements.

The Fire Services Department will alert the relevant departments promptly of any breach of industrial safety requirements found during their routine or special fire safety inspections.

The Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC), in conjunction with the Labour Department, will mount an intensive educational and publicity campaign on industrial safety focusing on work at height, construction industry and confined spaces.