It's difficult for anyone walking around Hong Kong to be unaware of the vast amount of public and private construction projects under way in the city.
Besides bringing improvements to the infrastructure and returns for investors, these major works are also providing a huge number of jobs for construction workers.
Along with that growth in employee numbers comes an increased workload for those in the industry specifically responsible for health, safety and environment (HSE) issues.
However, according to some of the biggest players in the sector, safety isn't a burden on their business - it is at the heart of what they do. 'We see [HSE] as fundamental to a successful business. Good HSE is good business,' says Nick Lewis, business development, engineering and HSE director with K Wah Construction Materials, a leading supplier of materials such as aggregates, concrete and asphalt.
For Gammon Construction, the industry giant building tunnels and stations for the MTR West Island Line, among other projects, safety, integrity and excellence form the company's three declared core values.
Yu Sai-yen, Gammon's executive director in Hong Kong, says that from next year, the government hopes to reduce the upper limit on the accident frequency rate from 0.75 to 0.6 reportable accidents per 100,000 man-hours.
