|
The occupational safety and health performance of the catering industry has improved significantly in recent years, but the accident toll is still on the high side, Permanent Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Matthew Cheung says.
Speaking at the Catering Industry Safety Award presentation ceremony today, Mr Cheung said with the revival of the Hong Kong economy, there has been an upward trend in the number of work injuries in the industry.
The number of industrial accidents increased 13.3%, from 6,229 in the first three quarters of 2003 to 7,058 for the same period in 2004. The accident rate per 1,000 workers was also up 6.1% from 48.8 in the first three quarters of 2003 to 51.7 as compared with the same period last year.
"According to our analysis, the increase in the accident figures was related to the comparatively lower accident toll of the catering industry in 2003 as a result of the slowdown of economic activities following the outbreak of SARS," he said.
Comparing the figures in the first three quarters of 2002 - a more normal year for comparison - with those of 2004, the number of accidents dropped 7.7%, from 7,646 to 7,058, and the accident rate per 1,000 workers was down 5.1%, from 54.5 to 51.7.
Catering trade tops accident list
"Nevertheless, the accident figures of the catering industry have all along been on the high side, and in fact topped all industries in the last three years.
"Although the accidents in the catering industry were mostly of a minor nature, the figures were higher than those of the construction and manufacturing industries. This is a matter of concern," Mr Cheung said.
Legislation, training aim to curb work injuries
The Labour Department has been mobilising everyone in the catering industry to raise the standards of safety performance and minimise work injuries through legislation, law enforcement, training, education and promotion.
Mr Cheung said that as people were the most important assets of catering premises, employers must ensure the work safety of employees by all means.
"We firmly believe that sustained promotion and education could help increase the safety and health awareness of employers and employees of the catering industry. This would also help to enhance the safety performance of the trade," he said.
Go To Top
|
