EMPLOYMENT
The Pressure Equipment Division of the Labour Department administers the Boilers and Pressure Vessels Ordinance and the Gasholders Examination Ordinance to ensure the safe use and operation of all equipment covered by the two ordinances.
The Boilers and Pressure Vessels Ordinance stipulates that boilers, including thermal oil heaters, steam receivers, steam containers, air receivers and pressurised cement tanks mounted on trucks or trailers must be approved and registered with the division and must be examined periodically by qualified engineers who are on the approved list as boiler inspectors/air receiver inspectors. The division also investigates accidents involving pressure equipment.
The Pressure Equipment Advisory Committee advises the Boilers and Pressure Vessels Authority, presently the Commissioner for Labour, on the effective control of pressure equipment. The authority accords recognition to local inspection bodies, who meet the criteria, for issue of certificates of inspection during construction of the equipment under the ordinance. The authority also issues advice in the form of code of practice and guides on the operation and maintenance of different types of pressure equipment.
Under the Gasholders Examination Ordinance, the division approves the design of gasholders and carries out inspection during fabrication and repairs, and subsequently conducts annual inspections.
The division provides technical advice to the Director of Fire Services on approval of pressurised containers and storage installations for compressed gases within the provisions of the Dangerous Goods Ordinance. The expertise in the field of pressure equipment is available, free of charge, to any organisation in private or public sectors.
Occupational Health and Hygiene
The Occupational Health Division of the Labour Department protects workers against health hazards arising from employment. It provides an advisory service to government and the public on matters concerning the health of workers and the hygiene of the work- place, and complements the Factory Inspectorate Division in supervising health standards and practices in industry.
During the year, the division took part in a number of seminars to promote occupational health. With sponsorship from the Occupational Safety and Health Council, it also organised a week-long exhibition on Occupational Health Perspective Industrial Chemicals and You which attracted some 30 000 visitors. It continued to publish a series of booklets and codes of practice on occupational health and the prevention of occupational diseases. Occupational health promotion and education activities were carried out by nursing officers.
A major responsibility of the division is to investigate notified occupational diseases and potential health hazards reported by the Factory Inspectorate and to determine preventive action. Surveys were conducted in various industries and a number of epidemiological studies on health and hygiene conditions were completed. Programmes to monitor various chemicals, dusts and other occupational health hazards were also carried out.
The division carries out medical examinations on personnel exposed to ionising radiation, users of compressed-air breathing apparatus, and government employees working in compressed air or engaged in diving or pest control. It also deals with cases of silicosis under the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance. The registered nurses of the division handle medical clearance for employees' compensation cases and its occupational
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