The Labour Department (LD) urges responsible persons for workplaces and workers, in particular contractors, employers and employees of construction sites, factories and industrial undertakings, to be more vigilant, check their workplaces and take adequate safety precautions before resuming work after the typhoon for ensuring work safety.
A spokesperson for LD said today (September 17) that both the management and the workers should pay more attention to work safety as workplace conditions might have changed. All temporary falsework, supporting structures, scaffolds and hanging materials should be thoroughly inspected to prevent workers from being struck by falling materials or objects.
For all work processes, machinery and equipment with potential hazards, duty holders should conduct advance checking, and prepare and implement necessary safety measures.
All scaffolding, working platforms, lifting appliances (such as tower cranes), temporary power supplies, confined spaces, sewage work and excavations should be inspected by competent persons to ensure that they are in safe condition before resuming operation or putting them into use again.
Workers should also be fully advised and instructed to follow safety precautions when working at height or engaging in lifting operations, tunnelling works, electrical work and other hazardous work situations.
To prevent work accidents, the spokesperson urged contractors and employers to step up monitoring of their workplaces to make sure that they are safe for work after the typhoon.
He pointed out that the general duty provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance require contractors and employers to provide safe working environments, safe plant and safe systems of work for their employees. Failing to comply with this requirement can result in a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Meanwhile, employees should co-operate by following the safety instructions and by using safety equipment.
For enquiries on occupational safety and health, please contact the department's occupational safety officers at 2559 2297.
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