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The Labour Department today (October 11) invited entries for the Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme 2013/2014.
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, to encourage the adoption of safe work practices, and to award contractors, site personnel and workers in recognition of their good occupational safety and health performance.
The highlights of this year's scheme are to improve safety measures for working at height, working procedures involving lifting appliances and lifting gears, and electrical installation and usage.
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 4 367 in 2003 to 3 160 in 2012, representing a drop of 27.6 per cent. The accident rate per 1,000 workers also dropped from 68.1 to 44.3 in the same period, representing a drop of 34.9 per cent."
The spokesman added, "The construction industry remains a high-risk sector and the accident toll is relatively high compared to other industrial sectors, with the number of fatal cases topping all sectors. In 2012, among recorded industrial accidents, 25.2 per cent happened on construction sites, while construction industry fatal accidents accounted for 82.8 per cent of overall industrial fatal accidents.
"According to the department's records, the fatal accident toll of falling from height remains highest among all types of industrial accidents. Accidents caused by working procedures involving lifting appliances, lifting gear and electrical works also account for many cases of serious injury or death."
To continue 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 Occupational Deafness Compensation Board, the Construction Industry Council, the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund 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 Minor Works Contractor Association, the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies and the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union 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 enrollment 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 certificates, badges and cash coupons. Entries for the Minor Renovation and Maintenance Works sub-category will be awarded certificates 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 31. 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 at the time when the assessment team members are performing the physical site assessments. The results will be announced in March next year.
Enrollment forms and details of the scheme's entry requirements are now available at offices of the Occupational Safety and Health Branch of the department. Enrollment 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. Enrollment in the quiz competition will start from November 1. 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 enrollment is November 30. Members of the public aged 15 or above and construction-related organisations are welcome to join the competition.
Ends/Friday, October 11, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:08
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