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contracting work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Altogether, 203 warnings and 33 improvement notices were issued and three prosecutions were carried out.
The Labour Department intensified enforcement action on minor renovation and maintenance works in response to the growing number of accidents occurring in the course of such work. Occupational safety officers conducted point-to-point inspections on normal working days, at night and during holidays to clamp down on offending contractors. The department also made use of the reporting system set up in conjunction with the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies to monitor the renovation and maintenance works in buildings under the management of association members. During the year, a total of 425 enquiries, complaints and referral cases were received through the system. As a result of follow- up inspections by occupational safety officers, 98 suspension/improvement notices were issued and there were 73 prosecutions.
In the wake of the fatal accidents related to working at heights and on scaffoldings in 2006, the department continued to step up its enforcement action to ensure adequate safeguards at these work sites. Apart from normal inspections, blitz operations and task force exercises were carried out to create greater awareness of the need for safety at work sites. Arising from these intensified enforcement actions, 207 suspension/improvement notices were issued and 195 prosecutions were initiated.
Promotion and Education
In 2006, the department launched a variety of promotional campaigns and publicity drives to enhance occupational safety and health protection. These activities included seminars, safety forums, thematic talks, roving exhibitions, TV and radio announcements, radio programmes, publications on occupational safety and health, promoting the Occupational Safety Charter and Occupational Hygiene Charter and formulating safety award schemes for the construction and the catering industries.
The Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance requires mandatory basic safety training for people engaged in construction work and container handling operations. On satisfactory completion of their training programme, workers are issued with a certificate, commonly known as the Green Card, valid for three years. To revalidate the certificate, the worker has to attend a half-day refresher course every three years. By the end of 2006, over 848 000 people had obtained the Green Card for working at construction sites and container handling workplaces. Some 460 000 workers have completed the half-day refresher course.
The Labour Department's Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre holds. training courses to help workers better understand the requirements of occupational safety and health legislation. In 2006, the centre organised over 800 such courses and talks for some 12 500 employees.
The department also gives talks in the offices of companies and organisations. In 2006, a total of 1 629 health talks were delivered. The department organised publicity programmes in 2006 aimed at preventing musculoskeletal disorders among people working in the catering industry.