Accidents prompt new safety laws for firms

Companies involved in large-scale construction, repair and maintenance will soon face new safety laws aimed at reducing accidents, the Government announced yesterday.

Any contractor with a project worth more than $100 million, or employing more than 100 people, will have to implement an internal safety auditing system by the end of this year.

But assistant commissioner for labour William Siu Wai-lam failed to clarify what penalties would be imposed on companies which refused to comply with the new amendment under the Factory and Industrial Undertakings Ordinances.

Mr Siu said safety auditors - who inspect and review a company's safety procedures and present their findings to executives - would bear much of the new workload.

The auditor would report whether a company had applied the best practices and make recommendations if necessary.

'All corporate procedure is expected to be checked by the safety auditors from start to finish,' Mr Siu said.