NIGHTSOIL WORKERS (Provision of masks and uniforms)

Madam Chan Choy Siong asked the Minister for Health whether he will consider providing nightsoil workers with hygienic masks and uniform so as to promote a healthier, neater and a more disciplined working force befitting a "Garden City" in Southeast Asia.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry concurs with the view that the wearing of uniforms will lead to a neater appearance and will assist in the fostering of a sense of discipline in a work force. But the provision of uniforms, if accepted, should in fact not be confined to only nightsoil workers, but should be made available to all daily-rated workers engaged in environmental public health work. In the case of street cleansing workers, an added safety consideration exists as they can be easily identified by traffic on roads.

The question of the provision of uniforms has been under active consideration, and the Ministry is in consultation with the Ministry of Finance for the introduction of uniforms for a disciplined public health work force. The annual cost of providing such uniforms works out to about $35 per workman; and the annual cost of such uniforms at the present time for 6,500 environmental health workers has been estimated to be approximately $240,000. This matter is being pursued with the Ministry of Finance. The cost of providing uniforms for 600 nightsoil workers alone is $21,000 per year.

However, the provision of protective masks in any work operation for workers is only resorted to where improvements to the industrial techniques, the provision of exhaust hoods and the installation of mechanical ventilation are inadequate to eliminate entirely any dangerous dust or fumes that may affect the health of the workers. The handling of nightsoil does not give rise to such dangers and is of no direct health value, contrary to popular opinion. There is, of course, an aesthetic value as the smell associated with such work is not pleasant. The use of protective masks, therefore, for this purpose alone is not practical as such masks restrict movement, are uncomfortable, and have never been popular with the workers themselves. Even if such masks are supplied, it is doubtful they will be worn by the night-soil workers.