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The Labour Department today (October 11) invited entries for the Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme 2011-12.
The scheme is jointly organised by the Labour Department, the Occupational Safety and Health Council and various organisations from the Government and the construction industry. It aims to enhance awareness among construction contractors and workers of safety and health at work, to foster a positive safety culture and to encourage the adoption of safe work practices.
A spokesman for the department said, "Through years of concerted efforts by employers, employees and the Government, there has been a marked improvement in the safety performance of the construction industry.
"The number of construction accidents fell remarkably from 9,206 in 2001 to 2,884 in 2010, representing a drop of 68.7 per cent. The accident rate per 1,000 workers also dropped from 114.6 to 52.1 in the same period.
"The construction industry remains a high-risk sector and the accident toll is relatively high compared to other industrial sectors, with fatal cases topping all sectors. In 2010, among the recorded industrial accidents, 20.6 per cent happened on construction sites and construction industry fatal accidents accounted for 50 per cent of overall industrial fatal accidents," the spokesman added.
To keep stakeholders in the construction industry alert to work safety, to strengthen the promotion of construction safety and health and to further reduce the accident toll, the department has again worked 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 Housing Society, 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 Limited, the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies, the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union and two new co-organisers, the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board and the Minor Works Contractor Association, 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 they have not recorded any serious or fatal accidents or received any suspension notices served by the department in the 12 months preceding the enrolment deadline.
The three main categories of awards for the scheme are Construction Sites, Safety Teams and Safe Workers. Entries for the Construction Sites awards will be divided into eight sub-categories, namely Building Sites (Public Sector), Building Sites (Private Sector), Civil Engineering Sites, Renovation and Maintenance Works, Minor Renovation and Maintenance Works, Building Sites (Sub-contractors), Civil Engineering Sites (Sub-contractors), and Renovation and Maintenance Works (Sub-contractors).
Winners of the above eight sub-categories and the Safety Teams will receive awards whereas the Safe Workers will be presented with a certificate, badge and cash coupon. Entries for the Minor Renovation and Maintenance Works sub-category will be awarded a certificate of appreciation and cash coupons as encouragement if they have undergone the assessment and do not win any prizes in the competition.
The closing date for entries for the Construction Sites and Safety Teams awards is October 25. The assessment criteria will cover various aspects concerning the safety conditions of construction sites and their safety management systems. However, Safe Workers will be selected by members of the assessment team at the time when they are performing the physical site assessment. The results will be announced in March next year.
Enrolment forms and details of the scheme's entry requirements are now 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.
The scheme will also feature a number of publicity functions, including a safety quiz competition to enhance public awareness of occupational safety and health. Enrolment in the competition will start from October 26. Application forms will be available at offices of the Occupational Safety and Health Branch of the department and uploaded to the department's website on that date. The deadline for enrolment is November 25. Members of the public aged 15 or above and construction-related organisations are welcome to join the competition.
Ends/Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Issued at HKT 11:01
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