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The Labour Department today (October 28) invited entries for the Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme 2014/2015.
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. First launched in 1999, the scheme aims to raise the safety and health awareness of contractors, site personnel and workers of the construction industry, to foster a positive safety culture, to encourage the adoption of safe work practices, and to recognise contractors, site personnel and workers in recognition for their good occupational safety and health performance.
A spokesman for the department said, "With our concerted efforts over the years, there has been notable improvement in the safety performance of the construction industry in Hong Kong in recent years.
"The number of industrial accidents and the accident rate per thousand workers in the construction industry was reduced from 14 078 and 198.4 in 1999 to 3 232 and 40.8 in 2013, representing a significant drop of 77 per cent and 79.4 per cent respectively.
The spokesman added, "Construction is a high-risk industry. The accident figure of the construction industry remains the second highest following the food and beverage services industry. The industry also accounts for the bulk of industrial fatalities. In 2013, 27.3 per cent of industrial accidents and 78.6 per cent of fatal cases occurred on construction sites."
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 Construction Association, the Hong Kong Housing Society, 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, the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union and the Federation of Hong Kong Electrical and Mechanical Industries Trade Unions 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, while each Safe Worker will be presented with a certificate, a badge and a cash coupon. In addition, entries for the Minor Renovation and Maintenance Works sub-category which have undergone the assessment will be awarded certificates of appreciation and cash coupons as encouragement even if they do not win any prizes in the competition.
The closing date for entries for the Construction Sites and Safety Teams awards is November 10. The assessment criteria will cover various aspects concerning the physical site conditions and their safety management systems. Selection of Safe Workers will be conducted when the assessment team members are performing the physical site assessments. The focus areas for this year's assessment are work-at-height safety, lifting appliances and lifting operations, electrical installation and application, and scaffolding safety. 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 quiz competition will start from November 11. 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 December 11. Members of the public aged 15 or above and construction-related organisations are welcome to join the competition.
Ends/Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Issued at HKT 11:00
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