DEVB - SDEV Press Releases: Construction... (7865)

Construction organisations and practitioners commended for outstanding safety performance (with photos)

More than 100 construction industry organisations and practitioners including contractors, supervising companies, site supervisors and workers were commended today (May 31) at the Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme 2012 presentation ceremony for their outstanding safety performance.

Addressing the ceremony, the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, said, "The construction industry is currently in a golden age, with major infrastructural projects reaching their peak construction period. The demand for manpower is increasing. To help the industry meet the demand, the Government aims to attract and train more local construction workers."

Mr Chan said that the Development Bureau is rolling out a series of measures to better manage the safety performance of public works projects and enhance the image of the industry with a view to attracting new blood. These measures include the introduction of a contractors' safety performance pre-warning system and a payment scheme that links up with the safety performance of contractors. Contractors with lower accident rates under previous public works contracts will also be given higher marks in a tender evaluation exercise to enhance their chances of winning the tender.

The Chairman of the Construction Industry Council (CIC), Mr Lee Shing-see, said at the ceremony that the CIC has introduced various training schemes and issued safety guidelines and alerts to enhance the safety knowledge of practitioners in the construction industry. It has also held talks and seminars regularly to promote good practices in the industry.

Jointly organised by the Development Bureau and the CIC, the Scheme promotes a considerate attitude towards workers and good practices on site safety, industrial health and environmental protection that would contribute to zero accidents on worksites. Outstanding role models in the industry will be commended.

The Scheme has received an overwhelming response from the industry. Among the 240 participating works sites, 49 were granted the Considerate Contractors Site Award this year, with 28 from the public works stream and 21 from the private works stream. There are several award categories under the Scheme, including the Considerate Contractors Site Award (New Works), the Considerate Contractors Site Award (Repair, Maintenance, Alteration and Addition Works), the Outstanding Environmental Management and Performance Award, the Model Sub-contractor Award, the Model Frontline Supervisor Award, the Best Model Frontline Supervisor Award, the Model Workers Award and the Best Model Worker Award.

Other attendees at the ceremony included the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Wai Chi-sing; the Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Miss Annie Tam; the Assistant Director (Environmental Compliance) of Environmental Protection, Mr David Wong; the President of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Ms Ada Fung; the Representative of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Mr Joseph Chi; the Vice-President of the Hong Kong Construction Association, Dr Peter Wong; the President of the Hong Kong Federation of Electrical and Mechanical Contractors, Mr Otto Poon; the President of the Hong Kong General Building Contractors Association, Mr Anthony Chan; the President of the Hong Kong Construction Sub-contractors Association, Mr Lawrence Ng; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, Mr Chow Luen-kiu; the Chairman of the Registered Minor Works Contractor Signatory Association, Mr Wong Wing-wah; the Chairman of the Contractor's Authorised Signatory Association, Mr Wong Sing-lam; and the Occupational Safety Officer of the Minor Works Contractor Association, Mr Wilson Wong.

The list of awardees of the Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme 2012 is available at the website of the Development Bureau (www.devb.gov.hk/en/construction_sector_matters/contractors/considerate_contractors_site).