Hong Kong Maintenance work accidents up 17.4%

Although the construction industry has made remarkable improvements in its safety performance in recent years, accidents involving renovation and maintenance works rose 17.4% to 290 cases in the first quarter of this year.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Safe Working at Height Promotional Campaign 2006 today, Permanent Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Matthew Cheung said the recovery of Hong Kong’s economy had led to more industrial incidents.

Although the number of industrial accidents in the construction sector dropped 3% to 677 in the first quarter, the accident rate per thousand workers has grown 13.5% from 42.2 to 47.9.

Mr Cheung said four fatal accidents concerning renovation and maintenance works were related to work-at-height in truss-out scaffolds last year while two such cases were recorded so far this year.

Subsidy scheme

The department and the Occupational Safety & Health Council jointly launched a subsidy scheme last year to help small and medium-sized building contractors buy fall-arresting equipment for working at a height.

A subsidy of up to $3,000 is offered to proprietors or contractors of small and medium-sized enterprises to purchase a transportable anchor device, safety harnesses and independent lifelines. A total of 264 applications have been approved up to the end of September this year.

To encourage traders to use safety equipment of higher standard, the scheme’s subsidy ceiling has been increased by $500 to further assist applicants to purchase up to a maximum of five T-shaped metal brackets.

Enhanced enforcement

Mr Cheung said the department is highly concerned about work safety involving truss-out scaffolds. It will step up enforcement and inspection to ensure that building contractors will strictly abide by the relevant safety regulations. 

The department will also step up publicity work and join hands with relevant organisations in the industry to organise different kinds of activities in a bid to raise workers’ safety awareness of work-at-height and to minimise work accidents.
http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/atschool/061014/html/061014en02004.htm