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The Labour Department is inviting entries for the Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme 2005-06 which will be launched tomorrow (October 17).
The scheme aims to enhance the awareness among construction contractors and workers of safety and health at work, and to foster a positive safety culture.
A spokesman for the Labour Department said today (October 16), "Through years of concerted efforts by employers, employees and the Government, there has been a marked improvement in safety performance of the construction industry."
"The number of construction accidents decreased from 4,367 in 2003 to 3,833 last year, representing a drop of 12.2%. The accident rate per thousand workers also decreased by 11.4% when compared with the figure of 2003."
"The downward trend of construction accidents continued in the first quarter of 2005. Comparing the figures with the same period in 2004, the number of accidents and the accident rate dropped by 13% and 10.4% respectively."
"However, these figures are still relatively high. Site accident figures remained second highest after the catering industry when compared with other industrial sectors, accounting for 21.9% of all reported cases in 2004," the spokesman said.
The department again joins hands with the Occupational Safety and Health Council, the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau, the Hong Kong Housing Authority, the Construction Industry Training Authority, the Occupational Deafness Compensation Board, the Hong Kong Construction Association, the Hong Kong General Building Contractors Association, the Hong Kong Construction Sub-contractors Association and the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union to launch the award scheme this year.
All construction contractors, sub-contractors and site personnel in Hong Kong are welcome to compete for the awards provided that they have not recorded any serious or fatal accidents or received any Suspension Notices served by the department in the past 12 months preceding the enrolment deadline.
Entries for the site-based awards will be divided into five categories, namely Building Sites (Public Sector), Building Sites (Private Sector), Civil Engineering Sites, Building Sites (Sub-contractors) and Civil Engineering Sites (Sub-contractors). There will also be awards for Safety Teams and Safe Workers.
Closing date for entries for the site-based awards and the safety team award is October 31. The assessment criteria will cover various aspects concerning the safety conditions of construction sites and their safety management system. On the other hand, safe workers will be nominated by an assessment team. The results will be announced in March next year.
Enrolment forms and details of the entry requirements are available at offices of the Occupational Safety and Health Branch of the department and the Occupational Safety and Health Council.
Enrolment forms can also be downloaded from the department's website at www.labour.gov.hk. Enquiries can be made on 2852 3565.
Ends/Sunday, October 16, 2005
Issued at HKT 11:32
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