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The Labour Department has expressed concern about an increase in the number of occupational injuries in 2006, after a steady fall since 1998.
The total number of occupational injuries rose from 44,267 in 2005 to 46,937 in 2006, up by 6%. The number of industrial accidents recorded a slight increase of 2.2% from 16,917 in 2005 to 17,286 in 2006.
Though fatal industrial accidents dropped from 29 cases in 2005 to 26 in 2006, concerted efforts were required to reduce the incidence of occupational injury and ill health, the acting Deputy Commissioner for Labour (Occupational Safety and Health), Mr Tso Sing-hin, said today (June 6).
"We are highly concerned with the upward trend of the overall accident figures, and are committed to reducing the accident tolls by working with all stakeholders, including the Occupational Safety and Health Council, trade associations, workers unions, professional bodies and other government departments.
"While the Labour Department has stepped up inspection and promotion, employers and employees should pay more efforts to raise the occupational safety and health standards," Mr Tso said.
When analysing the occupational injury figures by trade, the high-risk construction industry recorded 3,400 industrial accidents in 2006, a drop of 4.2% from 2005. Construction fatalities in 2006 stood at 16 cases, down from 25 in 2005. The accident rate per 1,000 workers in 2006 was 64.3, up from the level of 59.9 in 2005.
Mr Tso pointed out that small-scale construction works continued to pose a challenge. There was a substantial increase in accidents involving repair, maintenance, alteration and addition works, with the figure rose by 12.5% from 1,509 in 2005 to 1,697 in 2006.
"We attach great importance to workers" safety in these works. Apart from normal point-to-point inspections, our occupational safety officers conduct blitz enforcement action at night and during holidays to clamp down on offending contractors. We will issue suspension notices or improvement notices when necessary," he said.
The catering industry continued to top all industries in terms of the number of accidents. A total of 9,294 cases were recorded in 2006, up 4.4% from 8 902 in 2005. The accident rate per 1,000 workers, however, slightly decreased from 47.3 in 2005 to 47.2 in 2006.
On the other hand, business services (including import and export trade), transport and related services and sanitary and similar services recorded notable increases in accident figures. They accounted for 56.3% of the increase in the total number of occupational injuries last year though most of the injuries were of a minor nature.
"The department will strengthen promotion and publicity to enhance safety awareness of employers and employees and to foster a stronger safety culture in workplaces. Large-scale promotional campaigns for scaffolding safety and building renovation and maintenance works will be staged.
"We will launch a Customer Service Teams Project in mid-June. Volunteers will visit small and medium-sized enterprises in business services, wholesale and retail, and sanitary services to put across safety messages in work place.
"In addition, we will continue to co-organise sponsorship schemes with the Occupational Safety and Health Council to provide financial assistance to small and medium-sized building contractors and employers for purchasing suitable safety equipment," Mr Tso said.
He stressed that the department would continue with its rigorous enforcement actions on high-risk operations and hazardous industries, such as working at height, safe use of plant and equipment, catering safety and container handling.
With the advent of the hot and rainy season, Mr Tso urged employers to take appropriate measures to ensure their employees' work safety.
"We hope that employers will watch out for weather conditions and adopt appropriate contingency measures in case of inclement weather to protect workers from occupational injuries, especially those engaged in outdoor work," he said.
Ends/Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:09
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