XN000022-1996-07-05 — Page 36

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More sites checked by factory inspectors

More than 110 factory inspectors of the Labour Department engaged in the territory-wide special industrial safety operation checked 384 more construction sites in the past week, bringing the total number of sites visited to 868 since June 21.

The latest round of intensive inspections resulted in the issue of 99 summonses against building contractors for breaching industrial safety laws.

The total number of summonses to be issued under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance has increased from 168 in the first week to 267 up to yesterday (Thursday).

The special task force comprising 10 factory inspectors inspected 45 sites in the second week and recommended the issue of 31 summonses.

Another 100 factory inspectors involved in the special inspection exercise on working at height and in confined spaces checked 339 more sites and recommended the issue of 68 summonses.

Commenting on the inspection statistics, Chief Factory Inspector (Operations), Mr Tse Ming-sing, said today (Friday) that the overall safety situation in construction sites inspected so far was acceptable, though some 163 sites or one fifth of the 868 sites inspected would be prosecuted.

He said in the second week of operation, the sites selected were more scattered and the proprietors and contractors were a lot more responsive to government's call for better site safety conditions.

The breaches detected over the second week related mainly to failing to provide suitable working platforms or scaffolds, failing to provide proper fencing of dangerous places, failing to ensure the use of personal protective equipment by workers and failing to provide adequate safety measures in the use of lifting appliances. These were similar to the first week's findings.

The Chief Factory Inspector said the special inspection exercise would be extended for one more week.

"Extending our special operation will give us more time to check whether sites found to be in unsatisfactory safety conditions in the first two weeks have managed to make improvements.