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The Director of Highways, Mr Lau Ka-keung, this morning (June 22) inspected the site safety and occupational health measures implemented in the construction sites of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HZMB HKBCF) project.
Mr Lau first took part in the pre-work exercise with workers of the HZMB HKBCF project. Afterwards, he talked to the workers and expressed appreciation for their hard work on the project. Particularly concerned about the workers' awareness of site safety, Mr Lau reminded them to follow all safety instructions and measures to prevent accidents and report any health and safety hazards and concerns to their supervisors immediately. He also called on the workers to carry out their work in a safe and responsible manner so as to encourage emulation by co-workers.
After the pre-work exercise with workers, Mr Lau inspected the safety conditions of the work sites and was briefed by the resident site engineers and contractors on the various site safety and occupational health measures implemented, with particular attention on the precautionary measures to prevent heat stroke at work in the construction sites, including provision of sheltered rest areas, cool potable water and herbal tea, and ventilation and cooling devices. He said he was pleased to learn about the introduction of regular lunch/tea receptions and safety competitions and so on for both sub-contractors and workers to show appreciation for their outstanding performance on aspects of work safety.
Mr Lau also thanked the consultants and contractors for taking extra safety measures such as quarterly cross-team safety audits, surprise checks and engaging independent safety auditors accredited by the Occupational Safety and Health Council to regularly audit the safety measures implemented on site in order to ensure the contractors' safety management systems are in compliance with the standard.
Mr Lau later saw the rest areas for workers and the safety broadcast vehicle for conveying safety messages and information to workers. He delivered safety messages to the project teams and in particular stressed the importance of enhancing risk management, eliminating potential work hazards and arranging appropriate welfare facilities for workers.
"With the HZMB HKBCF project reaching the peak construction period in the coming months, an increasing number of workers will work on site. This may pose challenges to the site safety and occupational health of the project. Nevertheless, all parties should take appropriate safety measures to enhance work safety in the construction sites," Mr Lau said.
Mr Lau learned that the contractors had stepped up publicity and training targeting construction site safety by organising pre-work training sessions and daily toolbox talks, providing safety helmets with "P" or "N" logos classifying probation and new workers on site, and displaying at prominent locations some easy-to-understand safety notices with more pictorial illustrations. He particularly reminded the resident site engineers, contractors and workers that construction site safety should be given the utmost priority in daily work at all levels, and should by no means be compromised due to time or financial considerations.
"Given the mega scale and complexity of the HZMB HKBCF project, together with the constraints, such as airport height restrictions, working near the sea and many contractors and subcontractors carrying out works at the same time, the Government, resident site engineers and contractors must join hands to work collaboratively and proactively to continue our efforts to provide a safe and healthy working environment for the workers," Mr Lau concluded.
Mr Lau has also previously conducted inspections of the site safety and occupational health measures implemented in the construction sites of the Hong Kong Link Road and Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link projects.
Ends/Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:12
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