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The Commissioner for Labour, Mr Cheuk Wing Hing, today (January 5) called on stakeholders in the catering sector to further improve the industry's occupational safety and health standards by implementing preventive measures and enhancing awareness.
Speaking at the Catering Industry Safety Award Scheme (2013/2014) award presentation ceremony cum fun day today, Mr Cheuk said while over 200 000 employees are making great efforts to ensure that Hong Kong's catering industry prospers, the work accident toll of this sector is the highest among all trades. Although most of the accidents in the catering industry are minor, work injuries can harm employees' health and affect the operation of catering establishments.
"I'm glad to see that with concerted efforts from the industry and the Government, there has been significant improvement in occupational safety and health performance in the catering sector. Over the past decade, the accident toll in the industry plunged around 27 per cent from some 8 500 cases in 2003 to about 6 200 in 2012. The accident rate per 1 000 workers also dropped by 47 per cent, from 49.6 to 26.4, over the same period," Mr Cheuk said.
"With the close co-operation of relevant parties in implementing preventive measures and enhancing awareness, I am confident that the occupational safety and health standards of the industry will continue to improve," he added.
The Labour Department will soon roll out a new series of Announcements in the Public Interest (APIs) on television and radio to remind all parties in the catering sector about the common work hazards and the proper safety measures.
Also attending the award presentation ceremony and fun day today were Legislative Councillor Mr Tommy Cheung; Chairman of the Occupational Safety and Health Council, Mr Conrad Wong; and Executive Director of the Occupational Deafness Compensation Board, Ms Erica Ng.
Launched in 1999, the Catering Industry Safety Award Scheme is jointly organised by the Labour Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Council, with the Occupational Deafness Compensation Board and related organisations in the trade as co-organising bodies. Entering its 15th anniversary this year, the award scheme has drawn record-breaking participation from a total of 268 catering establishments and 221 management staff.
The scheme aims to reinforce awareness of occupational safety and health among employers, employees and stakeholders in the industry as well as the public. It also aims to inculcate a good occupational safety and health culture in the catering industry, and to award catering establishments, supervisors and workers with good performance in occupational safety and health.
Ends/Sunday, January 5, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:48
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