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The Labour Department today (October 31) invited entries for the Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme 2008-09.
The scheme aims to enhance awareness among construction contractors and workers about safety and health at work, foster a positive safety culture, and encourage the adoption of safety working practices.
A spokesman for the Labour Department said today, "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 fell remarkably from 14,078 in 1999 to 3,042 last year, representing a drop of 78.4%; the accident rate per 1,000 workers also dropped from 198.4 to 60.6 in the same period.
"It is encouraging to note that the downward trend of construction accidents continued in the first half of this year. Both the number of accidents and the accident rate per 1,000 workers dropped by 3.6% and 2.3% respectively as compared with the corresponding period last year," he said.
"The construction industry remains a high risk sector. The accident toll is relatively high as compared to other industrial sectors while industrial fatal cases topped all sectors. Among the industrial accidents in all industrial sectors reported last year, site accident figures account for 18.9% of all reported cases and 76% of all industrial fatal cases."
To promote work safety and health to the construction industry and reduce accident toll, the department is again joining with the Occupational Safety and Health Council, the Development Bureau, the Hong Kong Housing Authority, the Construction Industry Council, the Occupational Deafness Compensation Board, the Hong Kong Construction Association, the Hong Kong General Building Contractors Association, the Hong Kong Construction Sub-contractors Association, the Hong Kong Federation of Electrical and Mechanical Contractors and the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union to launch the award scheme this year. Two newly invited co-organisers, the Hong Kong Housing Society and the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies will also join in organising this year¡¦s award scheme.
All construction contractors, sub-contractors and site personnel in Hong Kong are welcome to compete for the awards provided they have not recorded any serious or fatal accidents or received any suspension notices served by the department in the six months preceding the enrolment deadline.
The three main awards for the scheme are "Construction Sites", "Safety Teams" and "Safe Workers". Entries for the "Construction Sites" awards will be divided into eight categories, Building Sites (Public Sector), Building Sites (Private Sector), Civil Engineering Sites, Renovation and Maintenance Works, Building Sites (Sub-contractors), Civil Engineering Sites (Sub-contractors), Renovation and Maintenance Works (Sub-contractors) as well as a new category of award, the ¡§Minor Renovation and Maintenance Works¡¨. Entries of the ¡§Minor Renovation and Maintenance Works¡¨ category will be awarded the newly introduced ¡§Safety Awareness Award¡¨ if they have undergone the assessment and do not win any prizes in the competition. Winners of the eight categories and the "Safety Teams" will be awarded accordingly while the safe worker will be presented with certificate, badge and cash coupon.
In addition, a new "Safety Quiz Competition" has been introduced this year to enhance awareness of occupational safety and health among trade personnel and the public. Enrolment of this competition will start from December 1. Application forms will be available at offices of the Occupational Safety and Health Branch of the Labour Department and uploaded onto the department¡¦s website on that date. Deadline of enrolment is set at December 31. People over the age 15 or construction related groups are welcome to participate.
Closing date for entries for the "Construction Sites" and "Safety Teams" awards is November 14. 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 the assessment team members. The results will be announced next March.
Enrolment forms and details of the entry requirements are available at offices of the Occupational Safety and Health Branch of the department.
Enrolment forms can also be downloaded from the department's website at www.labour.gov.hk. Enquiries can be made on 2852 3565.
Ends/Friday, October 31, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:28
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