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Following is a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, in the Legislative Council today (November 30):
Question:
Regarding the industrial safety for prisoners, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the total number of prisoners who were injured while at work in the past three years and, among them, the number of those who have been compensated by the Administration for their injuries as well as the average amount of compensation;
(b) how the Administration ensures that prisoners will be compensated for injuries sustained while at work; whether it has taken out employees' compensation insurance for them; if not, of the reasons for that;
(c) whether it has provided training for prisoners to enhance their awareness of industrial safety; if so, of the contents of the training; if not, the reasons for that; and
(d) whether it will review the industrial safety issues relating to prisoners; if not, of the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) Prisoners injured at work will be sent to the hospitals in the penal institutions for treatment. The Medical Officers there may advise them to stop working temporarily as appropriate. In 2002 to 2004, a total of 420 prisoners were injured at work and had to stop working for one day or more. Among them, 20 had applied for ex gratia payment from the Government. Two applications were successful and the applicants were granted a total of $9,331 in ex gratia payment, eight were rejected because of ineligibility and the other ten are still being processed.
(b) As there is no employment relationship between the Correctional Services Department (CSD) and prisoners, the Employment Ordinance and the Employees' Compensation Scheme are not applicable to prisoners injured at work. Prisoners who have to stop working temporarily due to injury at work will continue to receive earnings from CSD. Like other prisoners, the medical care and daily necessities of injured prisoners will be fully attended to by CSD. Moreover, prisoners who have sustained different degrees of permanent disability may apply for ex gratia payment from the Government.
(c) Upon admission to penal institutions, prisoners will join Induction Units to have general briefings on occupational safety and health. They have to undergo relevant training and pass trade tests before they can take up any job. In addition to being tested on skills, those who are assigned to operate any machines have to familiarise themselves with the safety instructions for operating the machines beforehand. The Occupational Safety and Health Branch (Operations Division) of the Labour Department inspects the workshop facilities of penal institutions from time to time, and works with CSD to promote awareness of industrial safety among workshop managers and provide them with relevant training, enabling workshop management to better meet the actual needs.
(d) CSD has set up a Departmental Occupational Safety and Health Steering Committee to formulate the Department's overall occupational safety policy and measures and review their effectiveness. Each penal institution also has an Occupational Safety and Health Committee to deal with issues on work safety and health of its staff and prisoners. These committees will conduct risk assessment of the working place with a view to drawing up effective measures to enhance safety and prevent accidents. Moreover, all penal institutions have appointed Safety Officers responsible for promotion, liaison, implementation and monitoring of matters relevant to occupational safety.
Ends/Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Issued at HKT 16:19
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