Powers in regard to obtaining of evidence and conduct at inquiry
(1)An inquiry committee shall have power—
(a)to hear, receive and examine evidence on oath;
(b)to summon any person to attend the inquiry either as the person whose conduct is the subject of the inquiry or to give evidence or produce any document or other thing in his possession and to examine him as a witness or require him to produce any document or other thing in his possession, subject to all just exceptions;
(c)to admit or exclude the public or any member of the public from the inquiry;
(d)to admit or exclude the press from the inquiry;
(e)to award any person summoned to attend the inquiry as a witness such sum, to be paid from the funds of the Board, as in the opinion of the inquiry committee have been reasonably expended by him in connection with his attendance.
(2)The Registrar shall sign summonses to witnesses.
(3)No person shall be required to answer any question or produce any document or other thing which, in the opinion of the inquiry committee, may tend to incriminate him.
(4)A witness shall, in respect of any evidence given by him before the inquiry committee, be entitled to the same privileges to which he would be entitled if he were giving evidence in court.
Disciplinary orders of inquiry committee and costs – Disciplinary Proceedings
Disciplinary orders of inquiry committee and costs
(1)Where an inquiry committee finds that a registered professional engineer committed a disciplinary offence, on confirmation by a review committee of the finding, or on the variation of the finding or any proposed order based on the recommendation of the review committee, the inquiry committee may make any one or more of the following orders— (Amended 33 of 1997 s. 11)
(a)order the Registrar to remove the name of the registered professional engineer from the register;
(b)order the Registrar to remove the name of the registered professional engineer from the register for such period as the inquiry committee may think fit;
(c)reprimand the registered professional engineer in writing and order the Registrar to record the reprimand on the register;
(d)order that an order made under this section be suspended, subject to such conditions as the inquiry committee may think fit, for a period not exceeding 2 years;
(e)order that the Board shall not accept an application from the registered professional engineer for registration as a registered professional engineer either for a fixed period or until the registered professional engineer satisfies the Board that he should be registered;
(f)order that the Chairman admonish the registered professional engineer orally; (Amended 33 of 1997 s. 11)
(g)order the registered professional engineer to pay all or part of the costs of any of the Registrar, the Board or the inquiry committee arising from the case if, but only if, the inquiry committee is satisfied that in all the circumstances of the case it would be unjust and inequitable not to do so. (Added 33 of 1997 s. 11)
(2)Costs payable by virtue of an order under subsection (1)(g) shall be recoverable as a civil debt. (Added 33 of 1997 s. 11)
(3)The inquiry committee may—
(a)assess the amount of any costs to be payable by virtue of an order under subsection (1)(g); or
(b)order that those costs be taxed on the basis of any one of the scale of costs specified in Part I of Schedule 1 to Order 62 of the Rules of the District Court (Cap. 336 sub. leg. H), (Amended 25 of 2008 s. 15)
and the Schedules to Order 62 of the Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4 sub. leg. A) shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to the taxation and recovery of costs. (Added 33 of 1997 s. 11. Amended 57 of 1999 s. 3)
(4)For the purposes of this Ordinance (including sections 25 and 28), any assessment or order under subsection (3) shall be deemed to be part of the order under subsection (1)(g) to which it relates. (Added 33 of 1997 s. 11)
Legal adviser – Disciplinary Proceedings
Legal adviser
The Board may appoint a legal practitioner to advise an inquiry committee and a review committee on any points of law and procedure that arise before, during or after the inquiry.
Inquiry committee and rules of conduct – Disciplinary Proceedings
Inquiry committee and rules of conduct
(1)The Board may refer any complaint concerning a disciplinary offence to an inquiry committee for decision, and for that purpose the Board may establish an inquiry committee of not less than 3 members of the Institution in the same or a similar discipline as the registered professional engineer in respect of whom the complaint is made, to determine whether or not he has committed a disciplinary offence.
(2)The Board may make rules providing for the conduct of its inquiries by an inquiry committee and for other matters relating to the investigation of an alleged disciplinary offence.
(3)The inquiry committee shall not proceed to hear evidence of a complaint concerning a disciplinary offence unless the registered professional engineer in respect of whom the complaint is made is given 28 days’ notice of the complaint and the date, time and place of the hearing.
(4)The registered professional engineer referred to in subsection (3) shall be entitled to attend and hear all evidence produced at the hearing and shall be provided with a copy of this Ordinance and any rules made under this section.
(5)The Board may make rules for the rehearing of an inquiry by an inquiry committee.
(6)Where a registered professional engineer is alleged to have committed a disciplinary offence under section 20(1)(b) or (g), the inquiry committee—
(a)shall not be required to inquire whether the registered professional engineer was properly convicted of the alleged offence; and
(b)may consider any record of the case in which a conviction was recorded and any other evidence which is relevant as showing the nature and gravity of the offence.
(7)The inquiry committee may, in deciding whether a person has committed a disciplinary offence, have regard to any code of professional conduct or practice promulgated by the Board or currently in use by the Institution.
Disciplinary Proceedings – Register and Certificates
Disciplinary offences
(1)A registered professional engineer commits a disciplinary offence if he—
(a)commits misconduct or neglect in any professional respect;
(b)has been convicted of an offence under this Ordinance;
(c)has obtained registration under this Ordinance by fraud or misrepresentation;
(d)was not at the time of his registration under this Ordinance entitled to be registered;
(e)has held himself out to be a registered professional engineer in a specific discipline when he was not so registered;
(f)without reasonable excuse, fails to attend before an inquiry committee when summoned either as a witness or as a person in respect of whom the inquiry committee is meeting; or
(g)has been convicted in Hong Kong or elsewhere of any offence which may bring the profession into disrepute and sentenced to imprisonment, whether the sentence is suspended or not.
(2)If a person who has been guilty of misconduct or neglect in a professional respect or has been convicted of an offence under this Ordinance or has been convicted of an offence likely to bring the profession into disrepute and sentenced to imprisonment, informs the Board of such misconduct, neglect or conviction when he applies for registration or renewal of registration and the Board subsequently accepts the person for registration or renewal of registration, that person shall not, for the purposes of registration or renewal of registration, be considered as having committed a disciplinary offence in respect of the disclosed misconduct, neglect or conviction.
(3)Where the Registrar receives a complaint concerning a disciplinary offence, the Registrar shall submit the facts to 2 members of the Board appointed by the Board for the purpose, and the members, in consultation with the Registrar, shall determine whether the complaint should be referred to the Board.
石棉工作的安全與健康工作守則-局部排氣通風設備
石棉工作的安全與健康工作守則-局部排氣通風設備
- 局部排氣通風設備應把飄散於空氣中的物料由工人的呼吸區內抽去, 並帶走石棉塵埃,在進行石棉工作期間,及如有需要停工後的一段時間,應一直使用這些設備,以保持空氣不受石棉纖維污染。局部排氣通風設備應每周檢查一次,並每隔不多於6個月的時間進行徹底的檢驗和測試。
每周進行檢查時應該確保:
- 排氣罩已視乎塵埃來源安裝於適當的位置;
- 排氣罩、管道工程、吸塵設備和所有系統部件都操作良好;
- 並無系統泄漏的情況;
- 所有過濾元件都可防止塵埃泄漏;及
- 收集塵埃的設備並無滿溢,及已進行清倒的安全例行程序。
每6個月進行一次的檢驗和測試,應由一名通風設備工程師或其他合資格人士負責,並應確保:
- 所有系統部件都置於適當的位置和操作良好;
- 系統的任何部分都沒有出現漏氣情況;
- 所有過濾元件的效能良好;及
- 氣流合乎設計規格。
- 東主應備存有關排氣通風系統的檢查、檢驗和糾正措施等紀錄至少兩年,該紀錄並應隨時可供執法人員查閱。
石棉工作的安全與健康工作守則-第11條控制措施的使用和維修
石棉工作的安全與健康工作守則-第11條控制措施的使用和維修
依據本規例提供任何控制措施、個人防護設備或其他物品或設施的東主,須 ——
- 在合理的切實可行範圍內盡量確保該等措施、設備或物品或設施得以正確使用或應用(視屬何情況而定);及
- 確保該等措施、設備或物品或設施保持有效率狀況、有效率操作狀態以及維修良好。
-
- 清洗及更衣設施;
- 東主須作出周全的安排,以確保控制措施、個人防護設備和清洗及更衣設施等充分和正確地得到使用。有關安排應包括在石棉工地僱用合資格人士作監督,及安裝觀察窗以便在石棉工作範圍外有效地監督工作的進行情況。觀察窗應設於石棉工作範圍邊沿的有利位置,每塊尺寸最小該為300毫米乘450毫米,並以3毫米厚的透明丙烯酸塑料片造成。
- 東主應為所有控制措施和個人防護設備適當地制訂維修程序。這些程序應包括需要維修的控制措施列表、維修方法和日期、以及負責維修和糾正欠妥之處的人員。需要維修程序的項目包括:
- 局部排氣通風系統,包括排氣罩、管道工程和收集塵埃設備;
- 配備HEPA過濾器的設備 —— 抽氣設備和吸塵機;
- 防止污染擴散的控制措施(包括工作範圍密封間);及
- 呼吸防護設備。
以下分別詳述有關此等項目的使用及維修細節。
- 清洗及更衣設施;
石棉工作的安全與健康工作守則-第10條防護衣物的提供和清潔
石棉工作的安全與健康工作守則-第10條防護衣物的提供和清潔
- 東主須向任何暴露於石棉的工人提供足夠和適當的防護衣物以供使用,但如該工人的身體或其個人衣物不會沾染石棉,則屬例外。
- 東主須確保上述防護衣物是作為《廢物處置條例》(第354章)和
《廢物處置(化學廢物)(一般)規例》(第354章,附屬法例C)所指的石棉廢物而予處置,或是每隔一段適當期間即予充分清潔。
- 防護衣物的清潔須在位於進行石棉工作的處所且置有適當的設備的設施內進行,或在位於其他地方而置有適當設備的洗衣場內進行;如從某人身上除下防護衣物以予清潔或處置,該衣物須以適當的容器包裝,該容器上須按照第19(1)條的規定加上標籤。
- 凡因沒有使用或因不正確使用防護衣物,以致工人的個人衣物沾染石棉,則該等個人衣物須按第(2)款訂明的方式處理,猶如該等衣物為防護衣物一樣,而有關工人須隨即將該等個人衣物交給東主,而東主即有責任作出該項處理。
-
- 防護衣物包括衣物鞋履,穿上可減少用者身體或個人衣物受石棉的污染,衣物應包括一件衣褲相連並附頭罩的工作服;鞋履可以是橡膠靴,或穿在普通鞋履外面的單次棄用式鞋套,如穿上單次棄用式鞋套會使人有滑倒的危險, 則應穿上橡膠靴,而工作服的褲應可穿著在靴子或鞋套的外面。
- 防護衣物包括鞋套,應以能阻擋石棉塵埃穿透的物料製造,衣物的設計,應可以阻止石棉塵埃穿透,例如在頸部、手腕及腳踝部分採用緊身設計, 衣物前面最好有拉鏈,但不應有可沾附石棉塵埃的任何外袋、鈕扣或其他附著物。
- 防護衣物應切合穿著者的身形,也應令人在穿著時感到舒適,應安排適當的行政控制措施或工作方式,以減低穿著防護衣物時所承受的勞累。
- 東主須向任何身體或衣物可能沾附石棉塵埃的工人,提供防護衣物,而決定某項石棉工作是否需要防護衣物時,應根據第5條所規定的評估來考慮。評估時,首先應假設防護衣物是必需的,考慮的因素包括:
- 工序性質和工作方法:工作是否在有工程控制的情況下進行, 如有的話,這種控制在減少工作地方的石棉塵量的成效如何; 工序是否包括拆除位於頭頂上的石棉工作;工作是在室外的露天地方,抑或在密閉範圍內進行等;
- 所涉及的物料,例如石棉是否易碎的,或是否粘合固定而不大可能會釋放出纖維的;
- 已知或預期由工序產生而飄散於空氣中的纖維濃度,以及飄散於空氣中的纖維是否只屬短暫性,以及是否來自小規模而易於控制的來源;及
- 石棉會否透過接觸而附在衣物上,例如觸碰易碎、潤濕或佈滿塵埃的物料。
- 如肉眼可見工人的衣物或身體沾附著石棉纖維,即表示該名工人必須穿上防護衣物,然而,縱使肉眼不能察覺這種情況,工人的衣物或身體仍可能沾附石棉。進行拆卸或清除含石棉物料的工序,工人的衣物和身體很可能會沾附石棉,有關工人一般需要穿上防護衣物。
- 防護衣物可分為單次棄用和可清洗兩類。除非設有專門清洗受石棉沾污的衣物的設施,否則,應採用單次棄用的防護衣物。
- 可清洗的防護衣物應清洗乾淨,一般來說,清洗已受沾污的衣物的工作,最好在設於工作地方的完備設施內進行,若不可行,則應在設於其他地方並由東主提供和管理的完備設施內進行清洗。
- 在工作範圍內穿著過的任何類型的防護衣物,應被視為已受石棉沾污。已受沾污的防護衣物應經配備HEPA過濾器及適當配件的吸塵機以真空,和/或 經濕抹法清潔後,工人方可把它脫下,工人應先脫下防護衣物,才脫下呼吸防
護設備和離開工作範圍。若設有專用的衛生設施作除污之用,工人應遵照附錄X所列的程序穿上或脫下防護衣物。
- 已受沾污的防護衣物一經脫下,應放進防塵的密封容器內封妥,以待棄置或清洗:單次棄用的防護衣物,應視為石棉廢物般棄置(詳見第39段);而可清洗的防護衣物如須送交洗衣場清潔,則應在工人把這些衣物脫下時徹底弄濕,在清洗前不可乾透,並且衣物應在濕透的狀態以不透水的容器盛載,容器上應按照第19條的規定加上標籤;此外,應作出預防措施,確保洗衣場的工人不會受到石棉的危害。無論如何,工人都不應將沾染石棉的衣物帶回家清洗。
- 工人的個人衣物如意外沾染石棉,則應當作防護衣物處理,工人須將該衣物弄濕及包裝妥當,然後交給東主,而東主即有責任作出該等處理。至於處理受污染的個人衣物的方式,應由東主與有關工人商討決定。
- 縱然已穿上防護衣物,但如保護不足或穿著不當,穿著在防護衣物下的衣物仍可能受到沾污,如遇防護衣物不能防止內衣物受沾污的情況,東主應在有需時向工人發給內衣物,這些內衣物應與防護衣物一般清洗或棄置。
- 在密封間內拆除石棉塗層、石棉絕緣物或其他易碎的石棉物料時,工人穿著的內衣物很可能受到沾污,進行這些工序的工人不應在防護衣物下穿上任何個人衣物,在有需要時,東主應為工人提供內衣物,這些內衣物應與防護衣物一般清洗或棄置。
石棉工作的安全與健康工作守則-第9條處所和工業裝置的清潔
石棉工作的安全與健康工作守則-第9條處所和工業裝置的清潔
- 於某處所或其部分進行石棉工作的東主須確保該處所或部分以及在與該工作有關連的情況下而使用的工業裝置均保持清潔和盡可能不沾染石棉,而在石棉工作完成後,東主尤其須確保該處所或部分以及該工業裝置均予徹底清潔。
- 第(1)所規定的清潔工作,須 ——
- 藉真空吸塵設備進行;或
- 藉其他方法進行,
而該等設備或方法的設計、構造及使用,須能使石棉塵埃不會逸出或排放到空氣之中。
- 在處所內進行拆除石棉工作前,應在合理的切實可行範圍內盡量將可移的家具、工業裝置和設施搬離該範圍,工作範圍的地面和牆壁,及該範圍內不能移動的物品,應視乎情況以耐用塑料布遮蓋或密封,以免受到石棉塵埃的污染, 特別是表面粗糙或凹凸不平,易於積聚塵埃,以致難以清潔的地方,也應以耐用塑料布遮蓋,以免石棉塵埃積聚。該等塑料布可收集邊料和粗屑粒,方便在完成石棉工作後進行清潔工作。
- 在進行拆除石棉的工作時,應特別注意處所和工業裝置的定時清潔工作,使石棉塵埃和碎屑不會積聚在工作地方的任何範圍內,可能受石棉污染的範圍應按需要盡量頻密清理,以確保清潔。下述地方更應按所列的最少次數進行清潔:
- 地面每個工作天清潔一次;
- 工業裝置的外殼每個工作天清潔一次;
- 清洗及更衣設施每個工作天清潔一次。
不應讓石棉碎屑及溢出物留在地上或工作面上,應該盡快清理,並應按照《廢物處置條例》(第354章)和《廢物處置(化學廢物)(一般)規例》(第354章, 附屬法例C)的規定,視為石棉廢物般棄置。
- 清潔的方法不應對進行清潔的人或其他人構成危險,也不應導致污染擴散。凡屬切實可行,應使用配備HEPA過濾器的吸塵機,以免石棉纖維擴散;如 只有少量石棉塵埃,則可使用濕布抹除,但其後應在濕布乾透前放進適當的容器內封妥。
- 不應使用人手乾抹或乾掃石棉塵埃和碎屑;同樣,也不應使用壓縮空氣來清潔衣物或設備,這會把塵埃吹散到空氣中,進一步污染工作環境。
- 在所有含石棉的物料被拆除,並妥為包裝後,應用配備HEPA過濾器的吸塵機和/或採用濕抹法,將整個工作範圍徹底清潔。清潔範圍應包括曾拆除石棉的表面、耐用塑料布的外露表面、及曾在工作範圍內使用過的各項設備,清潔完畢後,應以肉眼徹底檢查,特別要留意難於接觸的地方、窗台和粗糙的表面等,以確保所有含石棉的物料均已清除,及確保沒有留下石棉碎屑或塵埃的痕跡。當肉眼檢查顯示工作範圍已妥為清潔後,應以聚醋酸乙烯酯溶液或相若的水基油漆噴塗耐用塑料布的外露表面,使殘留的石棉塵埃緊貼在塑料布的表面,以免在拆除塑料布棄置時,出現石棉塵埃擴散的情況。
- 在完成清潔工作後,應在工作範圍進行空氣監測,以提供支持證據,證明已按照環境保護署出版的石棉管制的工作守則的規定,將該範圍充分清潔。應強調的是,空氣監測不應用以取代仔細的肉眼檢查,仔細的肉眼檢查與空氣監測互相補足,而應在採用這兩種方法並有明確的結果後,才可宣布該工作範圍充分清潔。
石棉工作的安全與健康工作守則-工人除污
石棉工作的安全與健康工作守則-工人除污
- 所有從事石棉工作的工人應該遵守嚴格的個人衛生標準,以減低石棉污染擴散的危險。在完成石棉工作後,所有工人都該進行除污,包括先利用配備HEPA過濾器的吸塵機及/或採用濕抹法清潔;然後再在清洗及更衣設施內作徹 底的除污(詳見第14條),包括洗手和洗面或沖洗全身,視乎受污染的程度而定。