ENG-2001 — Page 181

EMPLOYMENT

Boilers and Pressure Vessels Safety

The Boilers and Pressure Vessels Division administers the Boilers and Pressure Vessels Ordinance to ensure the safe use and operation of pressure equipment. The division conducts regular spot checks on pressure equipment. It also conducts examinations for the issue of Certificates of Competency, investigates accidents and undertakes activities to promote safety.

In 2001, the division processed 2 225 equipment registration applications, inspected 6 503 factories and 3 796 items of pressure equipment, and issued 445 Certificates of Competency and endorsements.

Occupational Health

The Occupational Health Service of the Labour Department aims to protect the health of workers from hazards in the work environment. It sets occupational health standards, monitors occupational hygiene practice in the workplaces and enforces occupational health and safety legislation. It undertakes medical examinations for radiation workers and government employees engaged in hazardous occupations, provides clinical consultation for employees with a work-related illness, investigates occupational diseases, arranges medical assessments for injured employees, and conducts health education and promotion programmes for workers. The service also provides hyperbaric oxygen therapy for treatment of decompression sickness for divers.

Occupational Safety and Health Council

The Occupational Safety and Health Council was established in 1988 to foster a safe and healthy working environment in Hong Kong through education and training, promotion, consultancy, information services and research.

The council also offers tailor-made courses for companies of different trades, government departments and other organisations. The number of training programmes was expanded to 600 and a total of 16 000 persons attended the training courses in 2001. At the OSH Training Centre at Kai Tak, the council offered training classes with practical hands-on opportunities that included forklift truck operation, gas welding, working in a confined space, working at a height, using an abrasive wheel and the use of personal protective equipment.

Major promotional efforts were launched on these themes: the Health Day, Green Cross Day, Construction Safety Day, Good Housekeeping Day and the annual Occupational Safety and Health Week. In November, the council launched the first OSH Ambassador Programme to encourage individuals, organisations and communities' participation in promoting safety and health. As the sixth affiliate safe community support centre of the World Health Organisation, the council worked with the local communities in Hong Kong as well as the neighbouring regions in promoting safe communities.

The council produces 'Do it yourself' kits to assist organisations in conducting safety training and to establish safety management systems. A large variety of publications have been published for free distribution. To provide easy access of information to the public, major publications have been uploaded to the council's home page.

133