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The Labour Department will launch the Customer Service Teams Project again this summer to enhance the occupational safety and health awareness of those operating and working in the catering and renovation/maintenance establishments.
People interested in joining the project as volunteers are welcome to register at the Labour Department.
"Work accidents in the catering industry constituted 52.6% of reported cases in all industrial sectors in 2005. At the same time, the number of accidents involving repair, maintenance, minor alteration and addition works made up an increasing share of the total number of construction accidents. In 2005, 42.5% of the accidents were related to these projects," a spokesman for the department said today (May 31).
"Catering and renovation/maintenance establishments will be the targets of visits by volunteers this year. About 250 volunteers will visit more than 14,000 catering and renovation/maintenance establishments to promote occupational safety and health in the next four months.
"The volunteers will distribute publicity materials on occupational safety and health as well as relevant safety laws. This will help operators of catering and renovation/maintenance establishments understand their legal obligations."
"A questionnaire survey will be conducted by the volunteers to assess the basic knowledge of those in charge of catering and renovation/maintenance establishments on safety and health at work," the spokesman said.
Volunteers who are aged 17 or above and have attained secondary school level or above are welcome to join the Customer Service Teams Project. Before they start their service, they have to attend a one-day training course to learn about details of the project, basic safety knowledge and laws concerning catering and renovation/maintenance industries as well as communication skills.
Enrolment forms and project details can be obtained from all offices of the Occupational Safety and Health Branch of the Labour Department or from the Central Office for Volunteer Service of the Social Welfare Department. They can also be downloaded from the Labour Department's website (http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/content.htm).
For enquiries, please call the Safety Promotional Unit, Occupational Safety and Health Branch of the Labour Department on 2852 3565/2852 4970 or the Central Office for Volunteer Service of the Social Welfare Department on 2116 3417/2234 0100.
The Customer Service Teams Project this year will be implemented from June 20 until September. When completed, certificates will be presented to the volunteers in recognition of their service.
The Labour Department has been organising this project jointly with the Social Welfare Department since 1999. The project has been well received and the volunteers have visited more than 84,000 workplaces.
Ends/Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Issued at HKT 11:37
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