Builders pushed to toe line on site safety

Applications by the construction sector for the smart site safety system label opened yesterday in the latest attempt to get builders to take pride in their workplace, according to Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho.

For Linn, the label is like a "plaque" that will be stripped if a site fails to properly use the system, which consists of a smart safety monitoring device and a one-stop management platform.

The device will collect safety data and transmit them to the management platform via its own network to remotely monitor high-risk work at sites.

Alerts will be issued when hazards are detected, and the system will analyze data to help identify potential hazards so that improvement measures can be formulated.

Linn expected around 500 sites, representing about 60 percent of building venues, will participate in the program.

The first batch of about 100 sites will be issued labels in July, and all 500 sites are expected to get it by the end of the year.

The Construction Industry Council will upload the list of labeled sites onto its website, and the labels will be placed in conspicuous locations outside the sites.

Linn believes this will put pressure on sites without labels, as "government departments will pay more attention to them during inspections, and the industry will know which sites have not implemented the system."

Regular spot checks will be conducted, and if a site is found not to be using the system properly, the label will be withdrawn, and a public announcement will be made.

To encourage participation by private companies, the Construction Innovation and Technology Fund offered by the council will cover the cost of purchasing the system as well as IT support.

"The bureau has also worked with the council to develop technology system packages for private projects of different scales, to better assist small and medium enterprises in adopting the system" Linn said.

Also from July 1, the Buildings Department will require registered contractors to adopt the use of equipment from the system for building works worth over HK$30 million that involve mobile plants and tower cranes.

This mandatory requirement will be imposed upon granting approval for the first approval of superstructure plans or major revisions.