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The Labour Department (LD) today (August 26) launched the "Work Safety Alert" on its website to strengthen efforts in drawing the attention of interested parties, employers, contractors and workers to the general safety precautionary measures to prevent work accidents.
The Alert provides summaries of recent fatal and serious work accidents, and highlights points for caution in implementing general safety precautionary measures. The Alert can be accessed through the LD's website ( www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/work_safety_alert.htm ).
The LD's Chief Occupational Safety Officer (Operations), Mr Li Chi-leung, said the LD is highly concerned about workers' safety at construction sites. In addition to launching the Alert, the LD has taken more intensified systematic preventive measures to promote construction safety in view of the increase in major infrastructure projects and building renovation and maintenance works.
"The LD has stepped up enforcement actions targeting high-risk work activities such as work at height, lifting operations and electrical works," Mr Li said.
The LD has since August 13 been conducting territory-wide special enforcement operations on building renovation and maintenance works and electrical works. As at August 23, a total of 1 627 inspections had been conducted with 46 suspension notices issued and 58 prosecutions initiated against contractors and employers. More special enforcement operations targeting work at height and lifting operations in new works will be conducted this year.
The LD's Senior Occupational Health Officer (Health Promotion), Dr Chik Wai-chi, said that the LD spares no efforts in preventing heat stroke at work and has stepped up enforcement during the summer months. Up to mid-August, the LD had initiated seven prosecutions against employers and contractors of construction sites for not providing drinking water to workers.
Ends/Friday, August 26, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:11
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