Labour Department Adopts Multi-Pronged Approach To Promote Occupational Safety Of Construction Industry

With the continual commencement of mega works projects in Hong Kong in the future and a large number of old buildings needing to be maintained, the Commissioner for Labour, Mr Donald Tong, said that the Labour Department (LD) attaches great importance to the occupational safety and health of construction workers, and is committed to continue strengthening regular inspections, special enforcement operations, promotion and education to enhance the occupational safety of the construction industry.

Speaking at the Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme Award Presentation Ceremony cum Fun Day today (March 6), Mr Tong said that with the concerted efforts of the LD and the industry, there has been a notable improvement in the occupational safety and health performance of the construction industry in recent years. However, the sector still recorded the highest number of serious accidents and fatalities among all trades. Twenty-four industrial fatalities were recorded in 2015, of which 19 occurred at construction sites.

"In addition to stepping up regular inspections and special enforcement operations targeting mega works projects as well as repair, maintenance, alteration and addition works, the LD will continue to enhance construction site safety through education and promotion and the launch of award schemes," said Mr Tong.

To safeguard the safety of workers, the LD will continue to curb systemic safety risks of the construction industry at source, analyse systemic safety problems behind serious accidents, and disseminate the information to stakeholders through various channels to facilitate their formulation and implementation of corresponding safety management systems, he added.

Of the 19 construction fatalities recorded last year, more than half involved persons falling from height, with some caused by falling from a height of three metres or less.

"We endeavour to rectify this systemic problem through various means, including promotion of the use of mobile working platforms and light-duty working platforms for work-above-ground operations, and preventing the use of unsafe ladders," Mr Tong said.

In addition, he reminded the trade to purchase safety helmets with chin straps and use the straps properly to ensure the helmets' safety function is fully utilised.

This year marks the 17th anniversary of the Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme, which 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 through open competition to reward the contestants in recognition of their good occupational safety and health performance.

The award scheme's site safety competition has gained enthusiastic participation from a total of 199 construction sites, 52 sub-contractors and 129 safety teams this year.

The Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme is co-organised by the LD, the Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC), 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 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 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. The Chairman of the OSHC, Mr Conrad Wong, and representatives of the co-organisers also officiated at the award presentation ceremony today.