SAND AND GRANITE QUARRIES REGULATIONS, 1971 (Deletion of provisions)

Mr Cheong Yuen Chee asked the Minister for National Development and Communications why Regulations 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the Sand and Granite Quarries Regulations. 1971, were deleted when the 1971 Regulations were replaced by the Sand and Granite Quarries Regulations. 1974.

Mr Lim Kim San: Sir, these Regulations were deleted because, in drafting the 1974 Regulations, the Attorney-General had advised that, it would be undesirable to duplicate provisions which already existed in other legislation. The deleted Regulations are covered by the Factories Act. 1973.

Mr Ivan Baptist: Sir, does the Minister realise that dust pollution is a grave problem especially in sand and granite quarries? To workers and residents in the neighbourhood, effective control of dust pollution is essential. The absence of Regulations 11 and 12 would most certainly cause this problem and, irrespective of them being in the Factories Act, additional precaution should be taken for sand and granite quarries.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, the nuisance arising from quarry dust is being looked after. I think the Attorney-General is the correct person to give advice on legal proceedings. In his opinion nuisance of this nature has already been looked after in the Factories Act, 1973. There is no need to duplicate it in the Sand and Granite Quarries Regulations. 1974.

Mr Ivan Baptist: Sir, does the Minister realise that the Factories Act does not provide for pre-employment medical examination? Regulation 13 says that no person suffering from a pulmonary disease is to be recruited, and silicosis is a pulmonary disease. Could the Minister show how it would be ensured, in the absence of this Regulation, that no person suffering from a pulmonary disease is recruited into the sand and granite quarries industry?

Mr Lim Kim San: Sir, I do not think the Member is quite correct, because under Regulation 32 of the Sand and Granite Quarries Regulations. 1974, medical examination is provided for. It says here:

"Every licensee shall provide -

(a) every person who is employed in a granite quarry with a chest X-ray examination at least once a year; and

(b) every person who is employed in a sand quarry with a chest X-ray examination at least once in two years.'

Mr Ivan Baptist: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am talking about pre-employment examination. That is not provided for.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, we are going into details. But if the Member can give me the kind of information that he wants. I will supply him later. It is a bit too much for me to try to remember in detail every regulation that has been enacted in my Ministry.