Construction workers face penalty system on safety

Main construction contractors are mulling over establishing a scoring system for workers to enhance safety and to cut down on industrial accidents.

Workers violating safety rules will see their scores deducted and result in their having to take mandatory safety lessons. They may even be sacked.

The plan comes amid a worrisome spate of industrial accidents that has seen Hong Kong record at least 50 incidents this year in which at least 12 workers died.

The latest occurred on Thursday in Kowloon Bay, when a metal frame collapsed and hit a 28-year-old male worker, Wong.

He sustained chest and feet injuries and was admitted to the United Christian Hospital in a serious condition.

To reduce industrial accidents, sources said the construction industry plans to launch measures in phases.

A platform will be set up this month at the earliest for sharing information, including the names, of those workers who have violated safety rules that construction companies can refer to when they are hiring.

Workers who refuse to disclose their violations will be refused entry to construction sites.

Next up for the industry is a plan to introduce a scoring system similar to the driving-offense points system.

Points will be deducted for violating safety rules at three levels - minor, moderate and serious. A worker who has all points deducted may be suspended from work and required to undergo mandatory safety training.

There will also be rewards, such as extra points for workers who voluntarily attend safety courses, and they can also exchange points for gifts when they watch videos on occupational safety and health.

Lawrence Ng San-wa, chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Sub-Contractors Association said that, in industrial-accident cases, contractors, rather than workers, are the ones who are more likely to be prosecuted.

He supported the setting up of a platform that exchanged information on workers who had violated the laws, as well as a scoring system for workers.

Despite some sub-contractors introducing a scoring system for workers, Ng said only workers who pay attention to safety can help minimize the incidences of serious industrial accidents.

"We should not blow the privacy concern out of proportion, as the consequences for neglecting safety can be very serious, and I think [the industry] should work on it together," Ng said.

Federation of Trade Unions vice chairman Wong Ping said the number of industrial accidents had remained high over the past few years and suggested the government consider taking all occupational safety and health measures, including the scoring system.

"It is not ideal that everyone in the industry doesn't follow the regulations, [the scoring system] has a deterrent effect that makes people comply with the rules voluntarily," he said.

But Wong said workers' personal information should be handled carefully, adding that his union would pay attention to whether a work suspension of work could stem from unfair treatment of workers.

He also hoped the authorities would review the policy two to three months after implementation.