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Local catering establishments are invited to take part in the Catering Industry Safety Award Scheme jointly organised by the Labour Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Council, with entries being accepted from tomorrow (September 4) to September 18.
The scheme was launched in 1999 to enhance the occupational safety and health awareness of employers, employees and stakeholders in the industry.
It also aims to instil a good occupational safety and health culture for the industry and the general public, and to award catering establishments, supervisors and workers with good performance in work safety and health.
All participating establishments must hold a full licence issued by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. They should have no record of serious or fatal accidents or Suspension Notices issued by the Labour Department or had their licences suspended by other departments in the 12 months preceding the enrolment deadline and before the announcement of the assessment results.
Entries will be divided into six sub-categories: Chinese restaurants; restaurants (non-Chinese); hotels with kitchen; fast food shops serving Western food; fast food shops serving both Chinese and general categories of food; and cafe, light refreshments eating places and canteens.
A new Safety Performance Special Award will be introduced to catering establishments with only one outlet, other than those operated by a group, and have attained good occupational safety and health performance.
As in the previous year, Group Safety Performance Award will be presented to groups which have entered the competition with more than one outlet in the same sub-category and have achieved good overall work safety and health performance.
Each sub-category of catering establishments and the Group Safety Performance Award will have gold, silver, bronze and meritorious prizes. Winners of the Safety Performance Special Award, Supervisor Award and Safe Worker Award will also be presented with prizes.
Assessment will take place in September and October. Assessment criteria will cover the physical conditions of the workplaces such as the overall layout of the kitchen; passageways, exit and fire fighting installations; stacking and storage of materials, equipment and apparatus; manual lifting and handling; machinery, equipment and hand tools; workplace environment control; and electricity and personal protection equipment.
Various aspects of the safety management system will also be assessed. These include the safety policy, organisation and training; risk assessment; safety rules and regulations; inspection of hazardous conditions and incident investigation; emergency preparedness and safety promotion.
Enrolment forms can be obtained from the department's Occupational Safety and Health Branch offices and the Occupational Safety and Health Council. They can also be downloaded from the department's website at www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/content.htm. Enquiries can be made on 2852 3565.
Other co-organisers of the event include the Occupational Deafness Compensation Board, Hong Kong Catering Industry Association, Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants & Related Trades, Hong Kong Hotels Association, Association of Restaurant Managers, The Association for Hong Kong Catering Services Management, Food and Beverage Management and Professional Staff Association and Eating Establishment Employees General Union.
Ends/Sunday, September 3, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:32
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