SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR WORKERS (Legislation for compulsory use to minimise industrial accidents)

Mr Ho Kah Leong asked the Minister for Labour if he will introduce legislation to make it compulsory for workers to use the necessary safety equipment in the course of employment, so as to minimise industrial accidents.

The Minister for Labour (Mr Ong Pang Boon): Mr Govindasamy, Sir, it is not necessary to introduce further legislation to make it compulsory for workers to use the necessary safety equipment in the course of their employment so as to minimise industrial accidents, because such a provision is already contained in section 69 of the Factories Act which stipulates as follows:

`No person employed in a factory or in any other place to which any provisions of this Act apply shall wilfully interfere with or misuse any means, appliance, convenience or other thing provided in pursuance of this Act for securing the health, safety or welfare of the persons employed in the factory or place, and where any means or appliance for securing health or safety is provided for the use of any such person under this Act, he shall use the means or appliance.'

Anyone who contravenes section 69 of the Act shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both such penalties. Although vested with the powers of prosecution under section 69 of the Act, the Ministry has yet to invoke this section against any workers for two reasons. Firstly, the Factory Inspectorate of the Ministry was until recently understaffed, and strict enforcement of the Act was therefore not possible.

The second, and more important, reason is that it is better to inculcate in the workers a sense of safety consciousness through education and persuasion. Towards this end, appeals have been made both inside and outside Parliament to employers and employees to observe strictly various safety rules and regulations.

The Factory Inspectorate, through its newsletters, has been harping on the tune that it is only through the concerted efforts of the workers, the employers and the Government that we can hope to cut down the rate of industrial accidents. The National Trades Union Congress, the National Safety First Council and other organisations have also supported this call. However, these appeals have apparently achieved very little or no result, as the number of industrial accidents due to the irresponsibility of the employers and the negligence of the workers has not shown any sign of a decrease.

Consequently, my Ministry will commence action to prosecute both employers and employees if they contravene the provisions of the Factories Act or any regulations made thereunder. I would like to enlist the support of every Member of this House when we take this stern but necessary action so as to protect the welfare, health and safety of the workers.

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): (In Mandarin): May I ask the Minister how many Factory Inspectors have been recruited this year? Also, how do they go about inspecting the factories in order to understand the conditions and the safety arrangements therein?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Govindasamy, Sir, I have not got the figures with me, but I should think that roughly a dozen new Factory Inspectors have been employed this year. Many of them have, in fact, been appointed only recently and they are still undergoing training. So their effectiveness will not be as expected. But, nevertheless, they are making their rounds now, and when we commence action against the employers and the employees, I am quite sure there will be some effect on the rate of industrial accidents.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim (Kallang): Will the Minister see to it that only approved types of safety equipment are issued and at the expense of the employers? This should be made compulsory.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: We do advise employers that all safety equipment should, as far as possible, be of the type recommended or tested by the Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research. I think it is only reasonable that the employers should provide safety equipment to the workers free of charge.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim: Can the Minister point out to me which part of the Factories Act makes it compulsory for employers to issue safety equipment, other than the Building Operations and Works of Engineering Construction Regulations of 1970? If the employers will not issue it, how can the workers use it?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Where the employers have failed to provide the safety equipment, then they will be prosecuted, not the workers. But where the employers have provided the safety equipment but, for some reason or another, the workers have refused to use it, then the workers will be penalised.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim: The Factories Act does not say what industry or what occupation except-

Mr N. Govindasamy: We have 26 Questions today. Perhaps the Member can submit another Question later on for answer.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim: I think it is of the utmost importance that this question be answered.

Mr N. Govindasamy: The last question then.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: I think, for a start, we will probably begin with the building industry and also industries like ship-repairing where the workers will be working under hazardous and dangerous conditions.