Entries for the Catering Industry Safety Award Scheme will be accepted from September 26 to October 15.

Jointly launched by the Labour Department and the Occupational Safety & Health Council, the scheme aims to enhance safety awareness of the industry's employers and employees through promotional activities.

The department says the safety and health performance of the catering industry has been improving in recent years. The number of industrial accidents fell 19.1% from 12,549 in 1999 to 10,149 in 2002, whereas the accident rate per 1,000 workers dropped 18.2% from 66.9 to 54.7 during the same period.

Under the award scheme, all participating establishments should have a segregated kitchen in their premises. They must hold a valid full licence issued by the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department and must not have received any Suspension Notice from the Labour Department or recorded any serious or fatal accidents in the previous 12 months.

Adjudication will be conducted in October and November. Enrolment forms can be obtained from the department's Occupational Safety & Health Branch offices and the Occupational Safety & Health Council.

They can also be downloaded from the department's website.   For enquiries call 2852 3565.