Marks & Spencer joins Osprey to maintain safety
Retailer Marks & Spencer and Osprey Project Management (Asia Pacific) are developing a set of construction industry safety standards to prevent injury claims and lost man-hours.
This follows the example set on Marks & Spencer's recently completed 30,000 square foot store in the Plaza Hollywood complex which remained accident and injury free throughout construction even though 100 workers were employed on site.
Matt Fletcher, regional director of Osprey Project Management, said this helped the store open on time and be completed under budget.
He said this was due to proper management control by Osprey Project Management coupled with a willing team of contractors which meant no one was injured during construction of the store.
The same principals will be used on several other stores Osprey is overseeing for Marks & Spencer including outlets at Telford Gardens, Kowloon Bay and Discovery Park, Tsuen Wan.
Future developments at Chek Lap Kok airport and possible stores in Causeway Bay and the New Territories will operate to similar standards.
In all 51 construction workers were killed last year and more than 12,000 injured.
Millions of dollars are also paid out each year to settle workers compensation claims. Construction contractors face the penalty of increased insurance premiums. One insurance company alone received about $80 million in premium income from the $156 billion airport and related projects.
Among the measures that are being adopted are the use of proper protective clothing including hard hats, steel capped boots and shoes and dedicated on-site facilities, including toilets and washrooms.
'No one will be allowed on site without this equipment. Osprey and Marks & Spencer will drive this forward as a model for safe working throughout Hong Kong,' Mr Fletcher said.
