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The Labour Department (LD), in conjunction with the Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC) and construction industry stakeholders, today (April 25) held the Work-at-height Safety Forum cum Safety Equipment Exhibition to raise awareness of the risks of working at height and to share views and insights on how to further enhance safety measures.
A new sponsorship scheme was also launched for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to acquire a proper mobile working platform.
Addressing the event's opening ceremony, the Commissioner for Labour, Mr Cheuk Wing Hing, said falling-from-height cases account for more than half of fatal construction accidents. Such accidents also happen in other industries, e.g. property management and cleaning services, from time to time. Over the past three years, a total of 43 fatal industrial accidents caused by falling from height were recorded, of which falling from bamboo scaffolding or ladders each represented around 20 per cent. One third of all fatal cases were caused by falling from a height of less than three metres.
Mr Cheuk said, "Workers may lose their life if they fall from one floor height, or even from the height of a person. Therefore, those working at height must comply with all safety measures, and no matter you are working at a height of only a few metres, or even a few feet above ground, never forget the safety precautions."
Against the improper use of ladders or unsafe working platforms, the LD and the OSHC today also launched a new SME Mobile Platform Sponsorship Scheme to encourage and subsidise SMEs to purchase mobile working platforms that meet the safety standard. A total of $2.5 million has been reserved, which is expected to provide subsidies to over 600 SMEs. Each successful applicant can receive a maximum subsidy amount of $4,000.
In addition, the LD jointly launched with the OSHC the "OSH Star Enterprise - Pilot Scheme on Repair, Maintenance, Alteration and Addition Works (RMAA) Safety Accreditation" in June last year. This pilot scheme provides safety management system assessment, training and subsidies for SMEs to purchase fall-arrest and other protective equipment. With the support of the Employees' Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme Bureau, accredited "star enterprises" can get a 40 per cent discount when purchasing insurance for employees.
Mr Cheuk said, "About 60 companies have been enrolled in this scheme, in which four of them were accredited the approved safety standard. I am glad to learn that four more companies have passed the safety assessment and will soon be accredited as 'star enterprises'. Under the scheme, an SME employing five scaffolding workers can cut down its insurance expenses by around $200,000."
On publicity, a new casebook about fatal falling-from-height cases has been published by the LD and the OSHC. This casebook analyses the causes of industrial accidents and gives safety tips using pictorial illustrations. A version for minority groups will also be issued. Display boards will be put up and souvenirs will be distributed at different sites in the coming months to promote work-at-height safety directly to employers and employees.
Some 550 stakeholders of the construction industry and other related parties joined the Work-at-height Safety Forum cum Safety Equipment Exhibition. Other officiating guests included the Chairman of the OSHC, Mr Conrad Wong, and the President of the Hong Kong Construction Association, Mr Thomas Ho.
Today's event was divided into two parts, of which the Work-at-height Safety Forum was hosted by the Executive Director of the OSHC, Mr Tang Wah-shing. Forum guests included the Chief Assistant Secretary for Development, Mr Fong Hok-shing; Assistant Director of Housing, Mrs Irene Cheng; Assistant Commissioner for Labour (Occupational Safety), Mr Li Chi-leung; Chairman of the Committee on Construction Site Safety of the Construction Industry Council, Mr Cheung Hau-wai; President of the Hong Kong Construction Association, Mr Thomas Ho; President of the Hong Kong General Building Contractors Association, Mr Anthony Chan; President of the Hong Kong Construction Sub-contractors Association, Mr Lawrence Ng; President of the Hong Kong Federation of Electrical and Mechanical Contractors Limited, Mr Otto Poon; President of the Hong Kong Federation of Occupational Safety and Health Associations, Mr Kwong Chiu-ling; Chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, Mr Chow Luen-kiu; and Chief Executive of the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims, Mr Chan Kam-hong.
The other part of today's event, the Safety Equipment Exhibition, showcasing various kinds of mobile working platforms, fall-arrest equipment and personal protective equipment, allowed participants to better understand their utility and practicality. A counter was also set up to help companies apply for the sponsorship schemes.
Ends/Thursday, April 25, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:26
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