Hong Kong construction sector launches trial scheme to monitor workers’ compliance with safety measures in bid to reduce accidents
- Hong Kong Construction Association started pilot scheme on April 2 to record violations of safety rules by workers at participating sites
- Two-month trial scheme will cover around 100 sites with workers receiving points for safety breaches
Sources from the industry said the Hong Kong Construction Association, which represents 300 companies, had started the points-based pilot scheme on April 2 to record workers at the participating sites to see if they violated safety rules.
The construction sector has for some time been prepared to monitor workers’ safety performance in response to the rise of industrial accidents in Hong Kong.
It recorded 2,333 accidents in the first three quarters of last year, a 1.5 per cent increase from the figure for the same period in 2022.
For the two-month trial, the sector has included 15 safety rules deemed less controversial to monitor the practice of frontline workers and management. Depending on the severity of the action, the workers will get three or five points.
For instance, workers failing to wear safety helmets will be given three marks, while those operating machines without relevant licences and prior approval will get five points.