ENG-1999 — Page 176

EMPLOYMENT

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During the year, the council produced an easy-to-use set of training kits to assist small and medium-sized enterprises to conduct training for their staff. It also tailor- made a utility kit for use by civil servants to enhance their awareness of safety and health.

On the education front, the council started the project to produce a new training kit on electrical safety for distribution to all secondary schools in the region. The 'Occupational Safety and Health Gallery', located at the Hong Kong Science Museum, represented another milestone establishment to blend in safety education with fun. It also partnered the Hong Kong Award for Young People in holding the Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal Award with safety and health as one of the prerequisites.

One of the major themes of safety and health promotion in 1999 was 'Good Housekeeping in the Workplace'. The 'Good Housekeeping Day' held on December 17 was one of the key programmes launched with good support from employers and employees and attracted hundreds of corporations and organisations. The 'Occupational Safety and Health Week' is the annual highlight of the council's promotional effort. Exhibitions, seminars and workshops were held in addition to the wide variety of district-level programmes. During the year, the council made a start in initiating the 'Safe Community' project which drew on the resources of corporations, health care providers, educational institutions, government departments and organisations at district level.

The OSH Employees' Participation Scheme continued to support employees groups in organising meaningful programmes promoting safety and health on issues that were of most concern to their members. A total of 70 programmes were supported through this scheme.

The council relocated its Information Centre to its new permanent office during the year. The public can browse through the council's home page (http://www.oshc.org.hk) for latest information.

The council issued a large number of publications for free distribution regularly. To make information more easily accessible, the Green Cross magazine was placed on the Internet, in the council's home page, in September.

The council continued to manage the Independent Safety Audit Scheme for the construction projects of the Housing Department and the Works Bureau, and to provide government departments, commercial and social organisations with professional consultancy services on risk assessment, occupational hygiene, and safety audits.

The Green Cross Group continued to expand during the year. Regular benchmarking visits and seminars were organised, and a new Link newsletter was published for its 430 member organisations and the business community.

The council was involved in research on safety product testing. It also commissioned short-term and practical surveys on such issues as occupational diseases and hazards in high-risk industries, including working at height in the construction industry and cargo-handling. Results and findings would be announced through the media or the council's publications.