Report on Report on How to Improve How to Improve Construction Safety Construction Safety

in Hong Kongin Hong Kong

Kwong Chiu Ling, VictorKwong Chiu Ling, VictorPresident of HKOSHA President of HKOSHA

Study Workshop Study Workshop Organized on March 27, 2010Organized on March 27, 2010Over 60 local safety practitioners attendedOver 60 local safety practitioners attended6 sub6 sub--groups with 6 major topics e.g. groups with 6 major topics e.g. hazard communication, accident hazard communication, accident prevention, SME contractors, etc.prevention, SME contractors, etc.Attendees actively proposed ways to Attendees actively proposed ways to further further improve construction safety in HK.improve construction safety in HK.With 13 major recommendationsWith 13 major recommendations

One Death is too ManyOne Death is too Many

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1. Hazard Communication1. Hazard Communication

Recommendations:Recommendations:Following some major accidents, Labour Department Following some major accidents, Labour Department or other relevant organizations should publicize, as or other relevant organizations should publicize, as soon as possible, lessons learnt from incidents soon as possible, lessons learnt from incidents through various means such as distribution of the through various means such as distribution of the hazard alert information sheets so that stakeholders hazard alert information sheets so that stakeholders especially safety personnel can learn from other especially safety personnel can learn from other mistakemistakess..

Examples:Examples:Health and Safety Executive of UK Safety Notices (Internet)Health and Safety Executive of UK Safety Notices (Internet)Singapore Workspace Health and Safety Council will send eSingapore Workspace Health and Safety Council will send e-- mail of Hazard alert information sheets to subscribers.mail of Hazard alert information sheets to subscribers.

2. Construction Safety Information Sharing Platform2. Construction Safety Information Sharing Platform

(1/11/2010)(1/11/2010)

Health and Safety Information SharingHealth and Safety Information SharingFrom 2000 From 2000 2009, more than 1500 accidents2009, more than 1500 accidents

Construction Industry Accident Knowledge PlatformConstruction Industry Accident Knowledge PlatformTaiwan Taiwan Institute of Occupational Safety & HealthInstitute of Occupational Safety & Health http://http://www.iosh.gov.twwww.iosh.gov.tw/CIAKP//CIAKP/

After accident investigationAfter accident investigationRecurrence of accidents with similar circumstancesRecurrence of accidents with similar circumstances

Learn from mistakesLearn from mistakesAccident statisticsAccident statisticsCause of accidentsCause of accidentsCircumstancesCircumstances

Accident Accident Prevention Prevention

http://www.iosh.gov.tw/CIAKP/http://www.iosh.gov.tw/CIAKP/http://www.iosh.gov.tw/CIAKP/

Accident investigationAccident investigationSafety videoSafety videoWritten judgment Written judgment Accident statisticsAccident statisticsOthersOthers

2. Construction Safety Information Sharing Platform2. Construction Safety Information Sharing Platform

(1/11/2010)(1/11/2010)

3. Review of Pay for Safety Scheme3. Review of Pay for Safety SchemeTo review Pay for Safety To review Pay for Safety (PFS) (PFS) Scheme which Scheme which was firstly introduced by Works Bureau in 1996was firstly introduced by Works Bureau in 1996Recent Development:Recent Development:

PFS Scheme of Development Bureau Increased from 2% to 4% Increased from 2% to 4%

PFS Scheme of Housing AuthorityUnder reviewUnder review

RecommendationRecommendationTo actively promote the PFS Scheme to private sectors such as Real Estate Developers Association, etc.

4.4. Safety IncentiveSafety Incentive Schemes Schemes Financial incentives for safetyFinancial incentives for safety

Frontline staff Frontline staff enjoy benefits to increase motivationenjoy benefits to increase motivation

Pay contractors and subPay contractors and sub--contractorscontractorsAchieve the safety objectivesAchieve the safety objectivesBase on safety performanceBase on safety performance

Instead of safety measures takenInstead of safety measures taken

ExamplesExamplesMTR: S&E Improvement Incentive SchemeMTR: S&E Improvement Incentive SchemeCLP: Safety IncentiveCLP: Safety IncentiveTowngas: HSEQ IncentiveTowngas: HSEQ Incentive

Reward to contractor and Reward to contractor and directly to frontline staffdirectly to frontline staff

Effective in securing the safety commitment of contractors Effective in securing the safety commitment of contractors

5. Time for Safe Construction Projects5. Time for Safe Construction Projects

Most construction activities were under Most construction activities were under tremendous time pressure and some cases tremendous time pressure and some cases safety and quality may be jeopardized.safety and quality may be jeopardized.Sufficient time should be allowed for safe Sufficient time should be allowed for safe construction projectsconstruction projectsSuggest to establish Suggest to establish Project Construction Project Construction PeriodsPeriods GuidelinesGuidelines

By joint efforts of stakeholders in the industry By joint efforts of stakeholders in the industry including related professional bodiesincluding related professional bodies

6. Tendering of Construction Project6. Tendering of Construction ProjectConstruction Projects should Construction Projects should no longerno longer be awarded to be awarded to lowest bidlowest bid

Public sectorPublic sectorPrivate sectorPrivate sector

Tendering awarding practicesTendering awarding practicesInclude different factors apart from MoneyInclude different factors apart from Money

Safety performanceSafety performanceAccident records Accident records CompetenceCompetenceOthersOthers

Recommendation:Recommendation:Establish Tendering Awarding PracticesEstablish Tendering Awarding Practices

promote this practice to private sectors through relevant promote this practice to private sectors through relevant stakeholdersstakeholders i.e. Real Estate Developers Associations and Task Forces.i.e. Real Estate Developers Associations and Task Forces.

7. Penalties 7. Penalties Penalties to Safety ViolationPenalties to Safety Violation

Unreasonably lowUnreasonably lowEven for fatalitiesEven for fatalities

Little deterrent effect on safety violationsLittle deterrent effect on safety violationsICC accident 49 prosecutions ICC accident 49 prosecutions

Fine: around HKD140mFine: around HKD140m

Sentencing Guidelines for Fatalities Sentencing Guidelines for Fatalities

Sentencing Guidelines Council (Feb 2010)Sentencing Guidelines Council (Feb 2010)

Fines must be punitive and sufficient to Fines must be punitive and sufficient to have an impact on the defendanthave an impact on the defendant

Fines (HSWA involving death)Fines (HSWA involving death)

The appropriate fine will seldom be less The appropriate fine will seldom be less than than 100,000 and may be measured in 100,000 and may be measured in hundreds of thousands of pounds or morehundreds of thousands of pounds or more

Penalties Penalties Sentencing Advisory PanelSentencing Advisory Panel

Fines (Fines (Corporate ManslaughterCorporate Manslaughter))within a range of 2.5% and 10% of average within a range of 2.5% and 10% of average annual turnover after aggravating and annual turnover after aggravating and mitigating circumstancesmitigating circumstances

Fines (Fines (HSWA involving deathHSWA involving death))within a range of 1% and 7.5% of average within a range of 1% and 7.5% of average annual turnover after aggravating and annual turnover after aggravating and mitigating circumstancesmitigating circumstances

ExamplesExamples

UK UK LarkhallLarkhall Gas Blast (Dec 1999) with a family Gas Blast (Dec 1999) with a family of four died. Transco was fined for of four died. Transco was fined for 15m15mBP was fined for US$87 million for failing to BP was fined for US$87 million for failing to correct safety problems leading to Texas City correct safety problems leading to Texas City Refinery explosion (Mar 2005). 15 workers died Refinery explosion (Mar 2005). 15 workers died in this incidentin this incidentBuncefieldBuncefield Oil Tank Depot Fire (Dec 2005) Oil Tank Depot Fire (Dec 2005) 5.3m5.3m

8. Safety Training and Guideline8. Safety Training and Guideline to Top Managementto Top Management

Labour Department should liaise with other professional associations to issue a guideline to the Directors of the organizations similar to Leading health and safety at work Leadership Actions for Directors and Board Members issued by Institute of Directors and Health and Safety Executive of UK.

This may help Directors to be more aware of their safety liabilities and awareness.

Consider to provide Site Safety Management Consider to provide Site Safety Management Training for Director LevelTraining for Director Level

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9. Enhancement of OSH Training9. Enhancement of OSH TrainingComprehensive induction Comprehensive induction trainingtraining

Scenario based trainingScenario based training3D virtual reality 3D virtual reality Interactive, Interactive, learn more than class learn more than class room type trainingroom type training

Practical trainingPractical training

Safety : The Long, Hard and Winding Safety : The Long, Hard and Winding JourneyJourney

Source: CLP

Thank YouThank You

Report on How to Improve Construction Safety in Hong KongStudy Workshop One Death is too Many1. Hazard Communication2. Construction Safety Information Sharing Platform (1/11/2010)Slide Number 6Slide Number 72. Construction Safety Information Sharing Platform (1/11/2010)3. Review of Pay for Safety SchemeSafety Incentive Schemes 5. Time for Safe Construction Projects6. Tendering of Construction Project7. Penalties Sentencing Guidelines for Fatalities Penalties Examples8. Safety Training and Guideline to Top Management39. Enhancement of OSH TrainingSlide Number 20Thank You