XN000022-1993-06-29 — Page 6

5

I

TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1993

MR BLAKE NOTED THAT THE MEASURES HAD RESULTED IN

IMPROVEMENTS

IN SAFETY.

"UP TO APRIL 30, 1993, THE INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT RATE AND FATAL ACCIDENT RATE FOR ACP CONTRACTS ARE 90 PER THOUSAND WORKERS PER YEAR AND 0.5 PER THOUSAND WORKERS PER YEAR RESPECTIVELY, COMPARED WITH THE CORRESPONDING RATES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE OF 302 AND 0.8 IN 1992," HE SAID.

"HOWEVER, THIS IMPROVEMENT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. THESE ACCIDENT RATES FOR ACP CONTRACTS ARE STILL HIGHER THAN OUR TARGETS SET IN THE ACP CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MANUAL, AND IT IS CLEAR THAT THE VERY STRINGENT TARGETS THAT WE HAVE SET FOR ACP WILL ONLY BE ACHIEVED IF THE PARTIES INVOLVED, INCLUDING WORKERS, CONTRACTORS, CONSULTANTS AND GOVERNMENT, ALL INCREASE THEIR SAFETY ENDEAVOURS STILL FURTHER," HE ADDED.

THE ACP CONSTRUCTION SAFETY AWARD SCHEME FOR CONTRACTORS AND WORKERS INVOLVED IN ACP PROJECTS IS INTENDED ΤΟ FURTHER INCREASE SAFETY AWARENESS, AND TO ENCOURAGE EVEN MORE IMPROVEMENT IN

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY.

THE SCHEME CONSISTS OF TWO AWARDS. THE SAFETY PERFORMANCE AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED TO THOSE SITES WITH A HIGH QUALITY OF SAFETY MANAGEMENT AND WITH A GOOD SAFETY RECORD. THE SAFETY RECORD AWARD WILL ONLY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SAFETY RECORDS OF THE SITES.

TODAY'S LAUNCHING CEREMONY TOOK PLACE ON THE WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION, ONE OF THE 10 PROJECTS BEING BUILT UNDER THE ACP.

AMONG THE OFFICIATING GUESTS WERE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS MR RONALD ARCULLI, MR LAU CHIN-SHEK AND DR SAMUEL WONG AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECTS CO-ORDINATION OFFICE (NAPCO), MR BILLY LAM.

THE THREE COUNCILLORS ALSO UNVEILED A MOCK-UP OF MR ACP SAFETY FIRST, A MODEL CHARACTER CREATED FOR THE AWARD SCHEME.

THE ACP CONSTRUCTION SAFETY AWARD SCHEME IS ORGANISED BY NAPCO IN CONJUCTION WITH THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL, THE HONG KONG CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES GENERAL UNION, THE HONG KONG CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION, THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY, THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE MARINE DEPARTMENT.

THE SCHEME WILL BE HELD EVERY YEAR. THE PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY FOR THE 1993 AWARDS WILL BE HELD EARLY NEXT YEAR. PRIZES FOR THE CONTRACTORS AND WORKERS OF THE WINNING SITES WILL INCLUDE TROPHIES, CERTIFICATES, BANNERS, ROAST PIGS AND OTHER SOUVENIRS.

0

16