ENG-2005 — Page 184

150 Employment

Inspections of medical and health care institutes, warehouses and offices were conducted in 2005 to ensure the adequate protection of workers from infections, inhalation of air impurities and ergonomic hazards associated with the prolonged use of display screen equipment. There were two prosecutions, 427 warnings and 50 improvement notices issued.

Safety of Renovation and Maintenance Works

The Labour Department intensified enforcement action on minor renovation and maintenance works in response to the findings of a study on the trend of industrial accidents in 2005. Occupational safety officers stepped up point-to-point inspections on normal working days, at night and during holidays to clamp down on offending contractors. The Labour Department also enhanced liaison with the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies by setting up a reporting system on renovation and maintenance work on buildings under association members' management. During the year, a total of 421 enquiries, complaints and referral cases were received through the system. As

the system. As a result of follow-up

a result of follow-up inspections by occupational safety officers on these cases, 102 suspension/improvement notices were issued and there were 88 prosecutions.

Promotion and Education

In 2005, the department launched a variety of promotional campaigns and publicity drives to enhance occupational safety and health. These activities included seminars, safety forums, thematic talks, roving exhibitions, TV and radio announcements of public interest, the promotion of the Occupational Safety Charter and Occupational Hygiene Charter and the organisation of the safety award schemes for the construction and catering industries.

The Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance requires mandatory basic safety training for people engaged in construction works and container handling operations. On satisfactory completion of the training, 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 2005, over 768 000 people had obtained the Green Card for working on construction sites and container handling workplaces. Some 364 000 workers have completed the half-day refresher course.

The Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre of the Labour Department offers training courses and tailor-made talks to help workers understand the requirements of occupational safety and health legislation. In 2005, the centre organised over 800 such courses and talks for some 13 800 employees. Apart from conventional health talks, the Labour Department, with its contingent of medical doctors and nurses, has developed outreach services for health education, with health talks delivered at the venues of individual companies and organisations. In 2005, 1 701 health talks were delivered to more than 59 000 participants.