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To enhance safety standards for handling heavy machinery tyres and raise related safety awareness, the Labour Department (LD), in collaboration with interested parties, organised a seminar on safe handling of heavy machinery tyres for the container handling industry (safety seminar) this afternoon (June 7). More than 250 personnel and workers from the industry participated in the event.
The safety seminar was co-organised by the LD, Lok Ma Chau China-Hong Kong Freight Association, Hong Kong Container Depot & Repair Association, Association of Auto Batteries and Tyres Industry, Hong Kong Storehouses, Transportation & Logistics Staff Association, Cargotec Asia Limited, Modern Terminals Limited and Asia Container Terminals Limited.
Delivered by industry experts and a Divisional Occupational Safety Officer of the LD, the safety seminar included talks on job hazards analysis and safe work practices in replacing heavy machinery tyres, safety hints for heavy duty tyre demounting and inflation work as well as covering relevant safety legislation.
Chief Occupational Safety Officer of LD, Mr Li Chi-leung said, "The LD is greatly concerned about recent serious accidents regarding repair of heavy machinery tyres in container yards. To prevent recurrence of similar accidents, the LD in collaboration with various interested parties of the industry has set up a task force, consisting of representatives from LD, relevant trade associations, labour union, suppliers of heavy duty machinery, tyre suppliers, and main container terminal operators. Apart from jointly organising the safety seminar to raise awareness of interested persons towards safe handling of heavy machinery tyres, the task force has produced a set of leaflets, posters and stickers on safety hints for heavy vehicle tyre demounting and inflation work for distribution to the industry. Following the promotion and publicity activities, the LD will step up inspections at container handling workplaces and launch a special enforcement campaign to ensure adoption of the safety measures and compliance with relevant safety legislation by tyre repairing contractors and workers in the industry."
Ends/Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:57
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