ENG-1979 — Page 81

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EMPLOYMENT

Throughout the year, the Industrial Safety Training Centre provided courses for students and workers from various industries. The centre has a display of machine guards, models depicting safe working practices on construction sites, and personal protective equipment.

Industrial Health and Hygiene

The Industrial Health Division of the Labour Department, comprising the Industrial Health Unit and the Industrial Hygiene Unit, provides an advisory service to the government and industry on matters relating to the health of workers.

The division is primarily concerned with preventing occupational diseases and protecting workers against physical, chemical and biological hazards in their working environment. Control is achieved by environmental and biological investigations and through monitoring, medical examinations and health education.

The Industrial Health Unit investigates occupational health hazards. It undertakes medical and pathological examinations of workers exposed to lead, fluoride, ionising radiation and other occupational health hazards, and of government employees engaged in compressed air work or diving work.

The responsibility for the medical examination and assessment of injured workers rests with medically-qualified industrial health officers. Visits to the homes and work places of injured workers are made by health visitors and nurses.

The Industrial Hygiene Unit is concerned with protecting workers against environmental conditions which may adversely affect their health. The unit carries out field surveys to evaluate the working environment of industrial undertakings and recommends measures to reduce industrial health hazards. It also investigates complaints about adverse working conditions and injuries caused by chemicals; thermal discomfort; inadequate ventilation; noise and lighting; and airborne contaminants.

The laboratory of the Industrial Health Division is responsible for the biological monitor- ing of workers, such as those handling fluoride and lead. It conducts analyses of samples taken for the purposes of environmental monitoring. The laboratory collaborates in the World Health Organisation Air Pollution Study, and is responsible for the air pollution monitoring programme in Hong Kong.

During the year, with funds awarded under the United Nations Development Programme, the Labour Department acquired modern noise-monitoring equipment and enlisted the services of a consultant who spent three months in Hong Kong studying the problem of industrial noise. The consultant has made certain recommendations and they are being examined by the department.

Workmen's Compensation

The Workmen's Compensation Division administers the Workmen's Compensation Ordin- ance. It ensures that injured workers and dependants of deceased workers covered by the ordinance obtain from their employers, without undue delay, workmen's compensation in respect of injuries or death caused by accidents or occupational diseases arising out of, and in the course of, employment.

The Workmen's Compensation (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance 1978, which added pneumoconiosis to the list of occupational diseases covered by the ordinance, has not been brought into effect because of practical difficulties in implementing the compensation scheme. A revised scheme is being worked out which, it is hoped, will be implemented in 1980.

The working party appointed by the Commissioner for Labour to review comprehen- sively the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance submitted its report in December, 1978. Legislation is being drafted to implement the more immediate recommendations.