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The Labour Department (LD) today (March 11) held an Award Presentation Ceremony cum Fun Day of the Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme 2011/2012 jointly with 14 co-organisers to promote the safety and health awareness of contractors, site personnel and workers of the construction industry.
Speaking at the award presentation ceremony, the Commissioner for Labour, Mr Cheuk Wing Hing, said the LD would continue its efforts in strengthening law enforcement, publicity and promotion, and with concerted efforts of relevant parties of the construction sector, a safe working environment for workers would be created in Hong Kong.
Mr Cheuk said, "Through the concerted efforts by employers, employees, trade associations, labour unions, professional organisations and the Government, there has been a remarkable improvement in the safety performance of the construction industry in recent years. The number of construction accidents fell from over 9,200 in 2001 to some 2,800 in 2010, representing a drop of about 70 per cent. The accident rate per 1,000 workers also plunged over 50 per cent from 114.6 to 52.1 in the same period. However, the number of construction fatalities increased more than a double from nine in 2010 to 23 in 2011. In the first three quarters of 2011, the number of construction accidents also recorded an increase of about 10 per cent which warranted our attention."
Mr Cheuk added that in view of the substantial increase in construction works, the LD has stepped up inspections and enforcement actions since early 2011. Apart from conducting 40 000-plus routine inspections each year, LD launched in 2011 a total of six territory-wide special enforcement campaigns focusing on new works as well as repair, maintenance, alteration and addition (RMAA) works, with over 8,000 workplaces inspected. Furthermore, the LD issues advisory letters to contractors on a regular basis to remind them to pay particular attention to high-risk work processes (such as work at height, lifting operations, erection of structures, etc.) and good housekeeping at construction sites. As for the RMAA works, the LD has stepped up area patrols and inspections during non-office hours since last August, which included surprise inspections during evenings and weekends to deter contractors from adopting unsafe work practices. Mr Cheuk stressed that LD's inspecting officers would take immediate enforcement action without warning upon discovery of breaches of the occupational safety legislation which could result in injuries or death of workers.
On the publicity and promotion front, Mr Cheuk said in addition to promoting occupational safety messages through the mass media, the LD has launched the "Work Safety Alert" on its website since last August to brief the industry on serious industrial accidents and to remind them relevant safety precautionary measures. Once construction accidents occur, the LD will alert trade associations, labour unions and occupational safety organisations through e-mails. Moreover, the LD has recently obtained the consent of the Urban Renewal Authority and the Hong Kong Housing Society to put up large banners on the external walls of buildings participating in the "Operation Building Bright" to promote safety messages for work at height. The LD will also organise a Construction Safety Forum tomorrow (March 12) to invite contractors, union representatives and occupational safety professionals to share experience and explore ways to further improve the occupational safety and health situation of the industry.
This year marks the 13th anniversary of the Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme, which aims to raise the occupational safety and health awareness of contractors, site personnel and workers of the construction industry, as well as to honour, through an open competition, participants with good occupational safety and health performances.
The Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme is co-organised by the LD, 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 Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund 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 Limited, the Minor Works Contractor Association, The Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies and the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union.
Legislative Councillor, Mr Abraham Shek, Chairman of the Occupational Safety and Health Council, Mr Conrad Wong Tin-cheung and representatives of the co-organisers also officiated at the award presentation ceremony today.
The award scheme's site safety competition recorded an entry of 195 sites, 64 sub-contractors and 130 safety teams this year.
Ends/Sunday, March 11, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:11
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