Site safety: Secretary for Development Carrie Lam speaks at the Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme award presentation ceremony.

Promotion of best practices in works projects will enhance site safety, improve the image of the construction industry, and attract fresh recruits to the sector, Secretary for Development Carrie Lam says.

Speaking at the Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme 2009 presentation ceremony today, Mrs Lam commended the winning contractors for their outstanding safety, health and environmental practices.

She said these measures, which included enhancement of welfare facilities for workers and improvement of the outlook, cleanliness and tidiness of work sites, are comply with the Government's new initiatives to introduce best practices in public works projects.

More new initiatives

The Financial Secretary announced in his 2010-11 Budget Speech the Government will take the lead to introduce best practices in public works projects. A total of $100 million was earmarked to support the Construction Industry Council to strengthen training and trade testing in the construction industry.

New initiatives being considered include promotion of good site management and safety in public works sites, building up a tidy, systematic and professional image for construction workers and a clean, tidy and pleasant outlook for construction sites.

With the concerted efforts of the Government as well as the industry in the implementation of a safety management system in recent decades, there has been a sharp decrease in accident rates for public and private works contracts.

From 1999 to 2009 industry-wide accident rates have decreased from 198.4 to 54.6 per 1,000 workers per year and in public works contracts from 55.7 to 11.4.