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The Labour Department today (November 6) invited entries for the Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme 2009/10. The scheme is jointly organised by the Labour Department with the Occupational Safety and Health Council, various government departments and key stakeholders of the industry.
The scheme aims to enhance awareness among construction contractors and workers of safety and health at work, to foster a safety culture, and to encourage the adoption of safe work practices.
A spokesman for the Labour 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 accidents in the construction industry fell remarkably from 14,078 in 1999 to 3,033 last year, representing a drop of 78.5%; the accident rate per thousand workers also dropped from 198.4 to 61.4 in the same period.
"It is encouraging to note that the downward trend of construction accidents continued in the first half of this year. Both the number of accidents and the accident rate per thousand workers dropped by 9.3% and 10% respectively as compared with the corresponding period last year.
"The construction industry remains a high-risk sector. The accident toll is relatively high compared to other industrial sectors while industrial fatal cases topped all sectors. Among the industrial accidents in all industrial sectors reported last year, site accident figures account for 20.3% of all reported cases and 83% of all industrial fatal cases," the spokesman said.
To keep stakeholders in the construction industry alert to work safety and to strengthen the promotion of construction safety and health so as to further reduce the accident toll, the department again joins with the Occupational Safety and Health Council, the Development Bureau, the Hong Kong Housing Authority, the Construction Industry Council, the Occupational Deafness Compensation 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 Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies Limited, 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 that 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 are "Construction Sites", "Safety Teams" and "Safe Workers". Entries for the "Construction Sites" awards will be divided into eight sub-categories: 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), Renovation and Maintenance Works (Sub-contractors). Entries in the "Minor Renovation and Maintenance Works"sub-category will be presented with certificates of appreciation and cash coupons if they have undergone the assessment and do not win any prizes in the competition to encourage the participation of small and medium sized renovation contractors. Winners of the above eight sub-categories and the "Safety Teams" will be awarded accordingly while each safe worker will be presented with a certificate, badge and cash coupon.
Closing date for entries for the "Construction Sites" and "Safety Teams" awards is November 20. The assessment criteria will cover various aspects concerning the safety conditions of construction sites and their safety management system. Safe workers will be nominated by the assessment team members. The results will be announced in March next year.
Enrolment forms and details of the entry requirements are available at offices of the Occupational Safety and Health Branch of the department and the Occupational Safety & Health Council at 19/F, China United Centre, 28 Marble Road, North Point, Hong Kong.
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 events, including a safety quiz competition, to enhance public awareness of occupational safety & health. Enrolment in the safety competition will start from November 16. Application forms will be available at offices of the Occupational Safety and Health Branch of the Labour Department and uploaded onto the department's website on that date. The deadline for enrolment is December 15. Members of the public over the age 15 and construction related organisations are welcome to join the safety quiz competition.
Ends/Friday, November 6, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:31
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