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The Labour Department reminds proprietors, contractors and relevant persons who are engaged in works in confined spaces to comply with the relevant safety regulation and a code of practice to protect the safety and health of workers concerned.
ˇ§The department attaches great importance to the accident that happened inside a sewage in Sha Tin yesterday. We are conducting an in-depth investigation into the incident,ˇ¨ the Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said today (August 2).
ˇ§We have contacted the family members of the two deceased workers to provide them with appropriate assistance.ˇ¨
ˇ§The Labour Department will conduct blitz inspections to worksites of drainage works in the coming three weeks. It will organise a large-scale health talk for contractors of drainage works on September 12,ˇ¨ he said.
When workers conduct cleansing or maintenance work in manholes and sewage pipes, they may have to work in confined spaces and may be exposed to methane or other toxic gas, or suffer from deficiency in oxygen.
ˇ§The concerted efforts of all parties concerned are required to protect the safety and health of workers in confined spaces. The Labour Department has implemented the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Confined Spaces) Regulation and a code of practice for such high-risk tasks,ˇ¨ Mr Cheung said.
ˇ§Proprietors or contractors are required to establish a safe system of work before work starts. They also have to ensure that all necessary safety precautions are carried out during work.
ˇ§On the other hand, all persons who are employed to work in confined spaces are required to co-operate with the proprietor or contractor,ˇ¨ he said.
The major safety measures that have to be taken by proprietors or contractors include:
* appointing a competent person to carry out risk assessment for work in the confined space and make recommendations on safety and health measures before undertaking the work;
* issuing a certificate stating that all necessary precautions such as a gas test and ventilation provisions have been taken. The certificate should also specify the period during which a worker may remain safely in the confined space before he enters it;
* ensuring that no workers other than certified workers work in the confined space;
* ensuring that a person is stationed outside the confined space to maintain communication with the workers inside;
* ensuring the use of an approved breathing apparatus and other necessary personal protective equipment by workers inside the confined space;
* formulating and implementing appropriate procedures to deal with any serious and imminent danger to workers inside the confined space; and
* providing necessary instructions, training and advice to all workers.
In addition, workers at a confined space should:
* observe the procedures as may be implemented by the proprietor or contractor;
* observe the instructions and advice and attend the training as may be provided by the proprietor or contractor; and
* make full and proper use of any safety equipment or emergency facilities provided.
Any proprietor or contractor who fails to comply with the regulation commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a maximum fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for 12 months. The certified worker who does not follow the regulation at work commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Mr Cheung said that the Labour Department, together with the Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC), had launched a subsidy scheme in 2004 to enhance work safety in confined spaces. The scheme is still open for application.
Under the scheme, the OSHC offers a maximum grant of $10,000 for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with financial difficulties to purchase gas testing equipment. The OSHC also offers financial assistance for SMEs to conduct risk assessment. The subsidy ceiling for this purpose is $3,000 and each SME could be subsidised up to a maximum of three times within the year. However, an SME is not entitled to get subsidies for procuring gas testing equipment and risk assessment service simultaneously.
Since the scheme was launched in 2004, the OSHC has approved 104 applications and granted about $820,000. All subsidised SMEs must appoint two employees to separately attend a one-day training course- General Safety for Workers in Confined Spaces - and a two-day course- Certificate of Competence in Safe Working in Confined Spaces. Both courses are free of charge and are run by the OSHC.
Enquiries about the subsidy scheme can be made on 2739 9377.
Ends/Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Issued at HKT 20:22
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