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CONTRACTORS working on airport core projects are failing to meet safety targets.

  Figures issued yesterday by the Secretary of Works, James Blake, show that from the start of the first airport contract in 1992 to the end of April the monthly average was 96 accidents per 1,000 workers.

  The Government had hoped for fewer than 60 accidents a month.

  Its safety efforts drew criticism after four workers died in April in accidents on the airport platform and North Lantau Expressway.

  Mr Blake said even though the accident rate was worse than hoped it was still below the industry average of 295 per 1,000 workers.

  ''The overall airport core programme accident rate is on a significant downward trend since mid-1993.

  ''For the six months up to the end of April the rate was down to 86 accidents per 1,000 workers,'' he said.

   ''The trends look good but there is still a lot of hard work to do.''   Stricter laws were being finalised for contractors who violate safety requirements or have high accident rates.

  He also promised a full investigation of recent accidents on Lantau and at the airport site.

  He said if there were lessons to be learnt and a need for special training then these would be passed on to the contractors.

  But Mr Blake ruled out immediate action to step up penalties on individual workers who break safety rules.



Airport projects poor on safety