The number of industrial accidents in the catering sector in the first three quarters last year rose 13.3% on 2003, to 7,058, while the accident rate per 1,000 workers went up 6.1% to 51.7, Permanent Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Matthew Cheung says.

A total of 8,881 non-fatal cases involving sick leave exceeding three days and three fatal cases had been processed by the Labour Department by the end of 2004. The average amount of compensation for each case was $5,707 and 15.7 working days were lost.

Compensation of more than $50.7 million has been paid to injured employees and family members of deceased employees in the catering industry arising from accidents at work in 2003. A total of 139,700 working days were lost.

These figures were revealed by Mr Cheung as he launched the catering industry's Occupational Safety & Health Carnival today.

Injuries top all sectors

Mr Cheung said the number of work injuries in the catering industry, though mostly of a minor nature, topped all industries and was even higher than those of the construction and manufacturing sectors.

"This is a matter of concern and we should make concerted efforts to enhance the safety level and reduce work accidents. If a work accident unfortunately occurs, proper claim management can help minimise its negative impact," he said.

Mr Cheung pointed out the occupational safety and health performance of the catering industry have improved significantly in recent years and the number of work injuries dropped. But with the revival of the Hong Kong economy, there has been an upward trend in the number of work injuries.

Upsurge related to economic revival

According to the Labour Department's analysis, the surge in accident figures is related to the comparatively lower accident toll of the sector in 2003 as a result of the slowdown of economic activities following the SARS outbreak.

"Comparing the figures in the first three quarters of 2002, the number of work accidents last year fell 7.7%, from 7,646 to 7,058, and the accident rate per 1,000 workers dropped 5.1% to 51.7," Mr Cheung said.

He pointed out nearly two-thirds of the accidents were related to 'slip, trip or fall on same level', 'injuries by hand tools' and 'contact with hot surface or substance', adding the adoption of good workplace management practices and proper safety training can substantially reduce such accidents.

Voluntary rehabilitation programme

Mr Cheung urged catering industry employers to work with insurance companies by offering assistance to the injured employees who have joined the Voluntary Rehabilitation Programme, and encouraged injured workers to receive its rehabilitation services to achieve the utmost benefit.

"The programme is to provide, through insurance companies, timely rehabilitation services to injured workers for speedier recovery, and hence enables them to return to work early," Mr Cheung said.

"The programme not only benefits injured employees, but is also beneficial to employers and insurance companies as prompt recovery of the injured workers helps reduce the number of working days lost and the amount of claims," he added.