Child passengers in private cars must use Child Restraining Device from November 1 and offending drivers may be fined
The Government today (October 24) reminded local and cross-boundary private car drivers that, starting from November 1, child passengers travelling in private cars in Hong Kong must use a Child Restraining Device (CRD), such as child safety seats, to enhance passenger safety. Offending drivers will be subject to a maximum fine of $2,000.
From November 1, unless child passengers aged below 8 reach a body height of 1.35 metres, they must use a CRD in private cars irrespective of sitting in the front or rear seats. Passengers aged 8 or above, or with a body height of at least 1.35m must either use a CRD or wear an adult seat belt. The Police may issue a Fixed Penalty Notice of $230 to offending drivers. Serious cases may be referred to the court, which can impose a maximum fine of $2,000.
When choosing a CRD, members of the public should accord top priority to the height and/or weight range for which the product is suitable. They should also look for any markings indicating compliance with recognised national or international standards and follow the installation guidelines. For enquiries, they should consult the manufacturer or retailer on the product standards to ensure compliance with the requirements specified in the legislation. Apart from child safety seats, portable CRDs such as seat belt adjusters, wearable safety restraint vests and foldable boosters can also be used. Yet, as they do not have protective pads and seat backs on both sides, their protection capabilities in side-impact collisions are generally not as good as those of child safety seats.
The Government has stepped up publicity and public education since February. The Transport Department (TD) has strengthened collaboration with the Police, the Education Bureau, the Information Services Department, Radio Television Hong Kong, the Road Safety Council and the Consumer Council to introduce the legal requirements through websites, infographics, videos, media, social media, parent information websites, the "e-Bulletin for Parents" and publicity posters on traffic signal controllers across various districts. In addition, the TD further reminded parents to purchase CRDs for early preparations as soon as possible after Easter holidays, during the Children Products Expo in the summer vacation and prior to the first school day.
Members of the public may refer to the TD's designated webpage on CRDs (www.td.gov.hk/en/road_safety/crd), infographics on the Agent T Facebook page and the relevant article in the Consumer Council's CHOICE Magazine for the legal requirements and selection tips, or call the TD's hotline 2804 2600 for enquiries.
Child passengers in private cars must use Child Restraining Device from November 1 and offending drivers may be fined Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Labour Department highly concerned about fatal work accident that happened in Tsuen Wan today
The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a construction site in Tsuen Wan this afternoon (January 14), in which several oxy-acetylene cylinders fell from a container during a lifting operation and hit workers underneath, resulting in the death of one worker and injuries to two workers. The LD is saddened by the death and injury of the workers in the accident, and expresses its deepest sympathies to the victim’s family and the injured workers.
The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and have issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the lifting operation at the site. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken."
The spokesman added, "We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."
To prevent loads being lifted from falling and hitting workers, the LD reminds employers to ensure that (i) the loads have been safely and securely connected to lifting gear before lifting operations; (ii) the gate of the container holding the loads is properly locked or fastened; and (iii) lifting zone is demarcated and barricaded, with no one entering the zone during lifting operations.
The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.
In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application "OSH 2.0", website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.
The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.
Source: AI-found images
