ENG-2009 — Page 185

Employment | 133

The demand for foreign domestic helpers has increased steadily over the past three decades. At the end of 2009, there were 267 778 such helpers in Hong Kong, an increase of 4.4 per cent over the 256 597 in 2008. About 48.7 per cent were from Indonesia and 48.5 per cent from the Philippines.

Occupational Safety and Health

The Labour Department continually improves safety and health in the workplace through legislation and enforcement, publicity and promotion, as well as education and training. Safety and health at work in Hong Kong has improved significantly in the past decade as a result of the concerted effort of all parties concerned, including employers, employees, contractors, safety practitioners and the Government.

In 2009, the number of occupational injuries was 39 579, a drop of 31.9 per cent from the 58 092 cases in 2000. Over the same period, the number of industrial accidents also fell from 33 652 to 13 600, down by 59.6 per cent. In the construction industry, accidents recorded a substantial decrease of 76.9 per cent from 11 925 in 2000 to 2 755 in 2009. In 2009, 268 cases of occupational diseases were confirmed, representing a cumulative fall of 46.8 per cent from the 504 cases in 2000. The most common occupational diseases were silicosis, occupational deafness and tenosynovitis (inflammation of a tendon sheath) of the hand or forearm.

Enforcement

The Labour Department inspects workplaces regularly to ensure compliance with occupational safety and health laws, particularly in the case of high-risk industries and organisations with poor safety records. Apart from routine inspections, the department conducts special enforcement campaigns targeting accident-prone industries and work situations.

Such campaigns were carried out during the year, focusing on building repair and maintenance, construction, catering, cargo and container handling, canopy cleaning and related activities, safe use of electricity, working in hot weather, site vehicles and mobile plants, tower cranes, laundries, as well as fire and chemical safety.

Following an accident in September in which six workmen fell to their death from a platform in a lift shaft, the department immediately launched an operation to inspect building worksites throughout the territory to ensure that people working at heights were protected properly. The department also joined a task force set up under the Construction Industry Council to explore ways of further improving work safety in lift shafts at construction sites.

The department stepped up its enforcement measures during the hot months. between April and September to ensure that people working at workplaces with a higher risk of heat stroke such as construction sites, outdoor cleansing workplaces, restaurant kitchens, laundries and food factories are protected adequately from heat stroke. The department also stepped up publicity on heat stroke prevention. This