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The Commissioner for Labour, Mr Donald Tong, today (January 4) called on stakeholders in the catering sector to observe occupational safety and keep up the efforts in reducing work accidents.
Speaking at the Catering Industry Safety Award Scheme (2014/2015) award presentation ceremony and fun day today, Mr Tong said that while over 12 000 catering establishments are buttressing Hong Kong's reputation as a gourmet paradise and providing more than 200 000 jobs in the city, the work accident toll of this sector is still relatively high among all trades.
"With the concerted efforts from the industry, the Government and the Occupational Safety and Health Council, there has been significant improvement in the occupational safety and health performance in the catering sector in recent years. Over the past decade, the accident toll in the industry plunged around 40 per cent from some 9 400 cases in 2004 to about 5 700 in 2013. The accident rate per 1 000 workers also dropped by over 50 per cent, from 51.5 to 24.2, over the same period," he said.
"I call on all members in the industry, whether you are employers, management staff or workers, to keep up the efforts in reducing work accidents."
Mr Tong remarked that the injury cases in the sector are usually relatively minor, most of which are related to burns, cuts, slips and falls, and sprains. The Labour Department has produced a new series of Announcements in the Public Interest on television and radio to remind all parties about the causes of injuries and the effective ways of eliminating work hazards.
He added that the Labour Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Council are planning to hold a Catering Safety and Health Summit, which will invite the award winners of the Catering Industry Safety Award Scheme to share their experience.
Also attending the award presentation ceremony and fun day today were Legislative Councillor Mr Tommy Cheung; the Chairman of the Occupational Safety and Health Council, Mr Conrad Wong; and the Chairman of the Occupational Deafness Compensation Board, Professor Anthony Yuen.
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. Marking its 16th anniversary this year, the award scheme has drawn record-breaking participation from a total of 336 catering establishments and 271 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 4, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:21
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