Worker accident rate up

AN influx of overseas workers at the Chek Lap Kok airport site has been blamed for a surge in accidents.

The latest Airport Authority figures show 64 workers were injured for every 1,000 employed in 1995.

This is slightly higher than the 62 injuries per 1,000 workers in 1994 and still above the airport core programme target of 60 set by the New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office.

Authority head of health and safety Iain Carter said the targets were realistic and achievable.

The reason for being over target was that the major contractors were mobilising, bringing in workers from all parts of the world.

'The first few weeks and months on site are the hardest part because that's the time when everybody is new,' he said.