The Deputy Commissioner for Labour (Occupational Safety and Health), Mr Vincent Fung, inspected a construction site at the airport in Chek Lap Kok today (January 16) to remind contractors, employers and employees, including imported workers and workers of different ethnicities, to pay more attention to work safety.
Mr Fung said, “Contractors and employers must conduct task-specific risk assessment prior to the commencement of high-risk operations, with safe work method formulated and implemented. Employees must also co-operate with contractors and employers by following the safe work method and using appropriate personal protective equipment to protect themselves and others. Contractors and employers must also ensure that putlogs of scaffolds at construction sites are properly installed and that unauthorised alterations to scaffolds (including putlogs) are prohibited, to ensure the stability of scaffolds in full compliance with the requirements of the Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety or Code of Practice for Metal Scaffolding Safety.”
Mr Fung added, “With Chinese New Year around the corner, employees may become less aware of work safety as they may have to rush to complete work before the long holidays. Employers and frontline supervisors should step up monitoring to ensure workplace safety. Employers and employees should also be more vigilant, check their workplaces thoroughly and take adequate safety precautions after the holidays.”
In light of the recent serious accidents at construction sites for new works, the Labour Department (LD) will commence a territory-wide Special Enforcement Operation from January 20, focusing on work processes such as scaffolding works, curtain wall installations and lifting processes, with a view to curbing unsafe work practices. If any violations of the occupational safety and health legislation are detected, the LD will take stringent enforcement actions immediately, including issuing suspension notices and improvement notices as well as initiating prosecutions without prior warning.
The LD will continue enhancing publicity, including disseminating safety messages to contractors, employers, employees and duty holders through the LD’s website, the “OSH 2.0” mobile application and “Work Safety Alerts”. The LD has also recently added “Safety Hints” to “OSH 2.0” for the speedy dissemination of short messages with relevant preventive measures following fatal work accidents or serious accidents to prevent their recurrence.
Mr Fung emphasised that the LD has attached great importance to the occupational safety and health of construction workers. In 2024, the LD conducted 74 410 safety inspections at construction sites, with 4 567 suspension notices/improvement notices issued and 2 388 prosecutions initiated. The LD will continue formulating and refining the strategies of inspection and enforcement, publicity and promotion, as well as education and training in a timely manner, while encouraging and assisting the industry in applying technology to further enhance the safety level in the construction industry.”
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