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In a bid to minimise work accidents, the Labour Department is launching an operation to check the safety of renovation works of external walls of buildings. This ties in with its ongoing publicity campaign to raise awareness among contractors and workers of the safety issues involving truss-out bamboo scaffolding.

The Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said today (February 15) that there had been a number of serious accidents relating to truss-out scaffolding recently. These included three fatal cases involving the renovation of external walls of buildings. In these cases, medium and small-sized contractors or self-employed workers were involved.

Mr Cheung said that the department was very concerned about these kinds of accidents. Apart from stepping up inspection and law enforcement action, it had embarked on an extensive publicity campaign to remind small and medium-sized contractors, owners' incorporations, mutual aid committees and workers to be particularly careful when renovating building external walls.

"The department will launch a blitz inspection in March. If working at height on truss-out scaffolding is found to be violating safety laws, we will issue suspension notices immediately to stop contractors from carrying out all hazardous works until the required safety measures are in place. We will also prosecute the offenders," Mr Cheung said.

He pointed out that the department had conducted a similar operation in July and August 2003, with the emphasis on dangerous activities such as working at height during the erection and dismantling of bamboo scaffolding and electric arc welding, gas welding and flame cutting.

In that exercise, about 4,200 sites were inspected. A total of 235 summonses, 17 suspension notices and 183 improvement notices were issued. The latter required the rectification of potentially dangerous activities.

In addition, the department inspected about 4,700 construction sites in November and December last year focusing on high-risk work practices, such as working at height, lifting operations and fire hazards.

The operation, which covered both new buildings and existing building renovation works, resulted in 173 summonses being issued to contractors and proprietors for breaches of safety regulations. Most of the offences were related to working at height, lifting operations and the use of personal protective equipment.

The department also issued eight suspension notices and 122 improvement notices.

As for promotion, he said that the department would target contractors and workers to enhance their understanding of the importance of the design and the safe work practices during erection, maintenance and dismantling of bamboo scaffolding in maintaining a safe work environment.

"We have sent letters to 418 building renovation and maintenance contractors, met with relevant employer associations and organised seminars for trade unions to remind them to observe the law and strengthen safety measures for truss-out bamboo scaffolding. They are also urged to drive home the message to the industry," he said.

"We have started to inspect sites involving external building renovation works this month throughout the territory to explain to contractors and workers the safety precautions required in the erection and use of truss-out bamboo scaffolding," he added.

Under the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, all scaffolding shall be erected and dismantled by competent workers with not less than three years' experience in the trade and under suitable supervision. All scaffolding should be inspected and certified safe by a competent person before being used for the first time and subsequently at regular intervals of 14 days.

Contractors should provide full-body harnesses and independent lifelines to workers when they erect or use scaffolding. They should ensure that workers wear the safety harnesses attached to independent lifelines to enhance work safety.

Any contractor who contravenes safety provisions on working at height is liable to a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for 12 months. The maximum penalty for workers who do not observe safety laws is a maximum fine of $50,000 upon conviction.

Mr Cheung noted that the number of accidents in the construction industry was high and its occupational safety was always a matter of community concern. But with the concerted efforts of the Government, the industry and relevant parties over the years, the safety performance of the construction industry had improved substantially.

The number of industrial accidents in the construction industry plunged 68.1% from 19,588 in 1998 to 6,239 in 2002, while the accident rate per 1,000 workers also dropped more than 65.6% from 247.9 to 85.2 in the same period. Comparing the first three quarters of 2003 and 2002, the number of accidents in construction sites declined by 31.7%, from 4,889 to 3,338, and the accident rate per 1,000 workers was down by 20.4%, from 86.3 to 68.7.

"With the concerted efforts of the Government and the construction industry in managing scaffolding work, the safety standards of the industry can be improved and the number of accidents minimised," Mr Cheung said.

Ends/Sunday, February 15, 2004

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