The Government will continue to put its utmost effort into improving the safety performance of Hong Kong's construction industry, the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Mak Chai-kwong, said today (May 8).
Speaking at the Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme 2007 award presentation ceremony, Mr Mak said that for the construction industry as a whole, the improvement in safety had been remarkable.
“The accident rate per thousand workers for the construction industry in 2007 dropped to 60.6, a fall of about 5.8%, as compared with 64.3 in 2006,” he said.
Despite the drop, Mr Mak pointed out that the construction industry is still a high risk industry with higher accident rates when compared with other industries.
To further improve the safety performance of the construction industry, the bureau has taken a number of safety initiatives.
“To promote the safety and good practices in Repair, Maintenance, Alteration and Addition (RMAA) works, we have included a special award for the best performing RMAA work site in the 2007 Scheme,” Mr Mak said.
"We will continue to work with the Construction Industry Council for implementing measures to enhance the safety of tower cranes, strengthen the control of reversing of construction vehicles on site and enable the workforce to get protected when working in hot weather condition.
"We will also include new contractual provisions in public works contracts requiring frontline management and supervisors to attend specific safety training to enhance their awareness and knowledge on site safety issues,” Mr Mak said.
For better monitoring and more direct control over site safety management, the Bureau will introduce measures to limit the sub-contracting layers in public works contracts, particularly for high-risk operations such as demolition work, scaffolding work and work in confined spaces.
The Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme, launched by the Government in 1995, recognises and commends contractors who have taken a considerate and proactive attitude towards a high level of safety and environmental performance in their construction sites.
The 2007 award scheme was well received by the industry. A record high of 139 entries were received. Among them, 56 received the Considerate Contractors Site Award, with 28 of them from public works projects and 28 from the non-public works sector. Besides, 24 entries received awards for outstanding environmental management.
Other officiating guests included the Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Paul Tang; Deputy Director of Housing (Development & Construction), Ms Ada Fung; Assistant Director of Environmental Protection (Environmental Compliance), Mr K F Tang; representative on behalf of the Chairman of the Construction Industry Council, Mr Thomas Ho; President of the Hong Kong Construction Association, Mr Conrad Wong; Vice President of the Hong Kong General Building Contractors Association, Mr Simon Kwok; Vice President of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Dr Andrew Chan; and Honorary Secretary of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Mr Bernard Hui.
Ends/Thursday, May 8, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:13
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