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Safe system of work for new airport urged
A large number of modern construction methods being introduced in the Airport Core Programme projects have drawn great concerns from the Labour Department.
The department's Chief Factory Inspector Chan Tat-king said today (Tuesday) that although airport building contractors were working hard towards making their sites safe for the workers, they should ensure there were thorough assessment plannings and supervisions for all hazardous jobs before they were commenced.
As construction of the new airport platform intensifies, Mr Chan observed that inter-communication and co-ordination among the contractors there were essential as it would be a highly difficult task for implementing day-to-day safety on site if each of them was working in isolation of the others.
"The difficulty is further complicated by the fact that work activities are wide ranging and tend to be carried out on tight schedule. Furthermore, there are people of different nationalities doing different types of work in close vicinities but under different commands," he said.
The Chief Factory Inspector advised contractors to keep each other informed of what was going on with their own projects so as to draw other contractors' attention to possible hazards arising from their works.
He also cautioned that hazards associated with temporary work should not be undermined.
"Any temporary work, like other kind of jobs, should be properly designed, constructed and maintained to ensure it is safe for use and without risks to others working on the same site.
"Risk assessments should be performed for all hazardous jobs whether they are of a temporary nature or not, and a safe system of work should be developed and put in place in all work situations," Mr Chan added.
Under the general duties provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, it is an employer's duty to provide a system of work that is safe and without risks to health to all persons he employed. Failing to do so may result upon conviction in imprisonment of up to six months and a maximum fine of $200,000.