HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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but overall speaking, the figures are still high and alarming. In the last ten years, on average there were over 50,000 industrial accidents, among which 70 were fatal cases. The accidents of the construction industry accounted for more than one third of our annual total and fatalities figures were high. During the past year, of every 1,000 construction workers in the construction industry, 236 sustained injuries and the fatality rate stood at 0.975%. As for every 1,000 workers at ASD's work projects in 1994, 69 sustained injuries. The figure dropped last year to 48, but unfortunately, the fatality rate rose from 0% in 1994 to 0.537% last year.
In recent years, one major capital works projects followed another in Hong Kong. As for major UC works projects exceeding $15 million, we now have 31 work sites under progress. There are 34 work sites for minor projects as well as a number of even smaller projects under progress. As the target completion date for projects is tight, Government and contractors may have pressed on progress at the expense of site safety so that the projects are accident prone.
In the consultation paper on industrial safety in Hong Kong published by the Education and Manpower Branch last year, it was admitted that our industrial safety situation much left to be desired. In the Policy Address, it was pointed out that the safety record of our construction industry was saddening. All these point to the question of whether our site safety supervision work is adequate.
Industrial safety is a complicated issue. To try and analyze one factor alone is inappropriate, but it is definite that employers, employees and Government are responsible. Stepping up patrol and increasing penalties will help, but they are not the only solutions. I feel that to build up industrial safety, the most important part is for a responsible employer to create a safe industrial environment and enforce overall supervision of workers' safety. In the past three years, ASD's Contractors Review Committee issued 27 warning letters to contractors in respect of Urban Council capital works projects. Of them, only four involved site safety. The others were concerned with delays.
The accident rate of ASD projects is lower than the overall rate of the local construction trade. I don't think it means we can be casual about it. On the contrary, we should in future go for a strategy to promote industrial safety. I am sure that as a responsible statutory body, the Urban Council will take the lead to ensure industrial safety so as to set good example for other contractors to follow.
I also urge the ASD to consider including site safety indicators as factors for the Central Tender Board to vet UC works projects. Alternatively, ASD can consider adopting a tender scoring system and change the practice of awarding the contract to the lowest bidder. Contractors with a record of frequent accidents may be punished, struck off or banned from bidding government work projects as a way to reduce accidents. Site safety indicators may include:
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
181
but overall speaking, the figures are still high and alarming. In the last ten years, on average there were over 50 000 industrial accidents, among which 70 were fatal cases. The accidents of the construction industry accounted for more than one third of our annual total and fatalities figures were high. During the past year, of every 1 000 construction workers in the construction industry, 236 sustained injuries and the fatality rate stood at 0.975%. As for every 1000 workers at ASD's work projects in 1994, 69 sustained injuries. The figure dropped last year to 48, but unfortunately, the fatality rate rose from 0% in 1994 to 0.537% last year.
In recent years, one major capital works projects followed another in Hong Kong. As for major UC works projects exceeding $15 million, we now have 31 work sites under progress. There are 34 work sites for minor projects as well as a number of even smaller projects under progress. As the target completion date for projects is tight, Government and contractors may have pressed on progress at the expense of site safety so that the projects are accident prone.
In the consultation paper on industrial safety in Hong Kong published by the Education and Manpower Branch last year, it was admitted that our industrial safety situation much left to be desired. In the Policy Address, it was pointed out that the safety record of our construction industry was saddening. All these point to the question of whether our site safety supervision work is adequate.
Industrial safety is a complicated issue. To try and analyze one factor alone is inappropriate, but it is definite that employers, employees and Government are responsible. Stepping up patrol and increasing penalties will help, but they are not the only solutions. I feel that to build up industrial safety, the most important part is for a responsible employer to create a safe industrial environment and enforce overall supervision of workers' safety. In the past three years, ASD's Contractors Review Committee issued 27 warning letters to contractors in respect of Urban Council capital works projects. Of them, only four involved site safety. The others were concerned with delays.
The accident rate of ASD projects is lower than the overall rate of the local construction trade. I don't think it means we can be casual about it. On the contrary, we should in future go for a strategy to promote industrial safety. I am sure that as a responsible statutory body, the Urban Council will take the lead to ensure industrial safety so as to set good example for other
contractors to follow.
I also urge the ASD to consider including site safety indicators as factors for the Central Tender Board to vet UC works projects. Alternatively. ASD can consider adopting a tender scoring system and change the practice of awarding the contract to the lowest bidder. Contractors with a record of frequent accidents may be punished, struck off or banned from bidding government work projects as a way to reduce accidents. Site safety indicators may include:
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