“The workforce in the construction sector has had very rapid growth. In 2013, there were over 32,300 workers, whereas in 2014, the number grew to over 52,500”, Lam Iok Cheong
According to the Labor Affairs Bureau (DSAL), only two fatal industrial accidents occurred in 2013, whereas the number in 2014 surged to seven. With several large-scale construction projects reaching their final stages this year, the bureau expects to face bigger challenges in preventing occupational safety incidents.
The chief of the bureau’s Occupational Safety & Health Department, Ms Lam Iok Cheong, said that various reasons have caused the increase in industrial casualties, especially the pressure on construction sites to meet their deadlines. A significant growth in the number of construction workers has also been a contributing factor.
“The workforce in the construction sector has had very rapid growth. In 2013, there were over 32,300 workers, whereas in 2014, the number grew to over 52,500,” she told the media in a press conference yesterday.
The official explained that the construction environment is often very complicated, which makes it difficult for the bureau to hold effective inspections. Moreover, the sector’s high mobility of human recourses is another concern for the bureau, because workers are more likely to not have completely mastered their trades.
To counter these challenges, Ms Lam said that the bureau has not only strengthened publicity and education about occupational safety, but also increased its inspections of construction sites and the prosecution of offenders.
The current regulations for occupational safety allow the bureau to fine a construction contractor at least MOP3,000 for violations; the amount will be increased to at least MOP9,000 when an industrial accident occurs. So far, the highest fine for fatal accidents to have been issued to contractors has been less than MOP14,000, according to a bureau official.
“The amount of fines is relatively low, but we also issue with them a suspension order for them to improve. That delay could cost the contractor hundreds of thousands of patacas a day,” said the department’s Hazard Prevention Division head, Ng Peng Chi.
The officials explained that suspension orders are applicable to machinery and working conditions that don’t meet the safety standards. Although they’re not applicable to the entire construction site, the bureau believes that suspension orders tend to greatly drag down or even paralyze the entire construction progress.
However, Ms Lam acknowledged that suspension orders are not a fixed-period penalty to be issued to punish the violator, but rather a measure to urge the contractor to fix its violations. Accordingly, the ban can be lifted when the contractor has made sufficient improvements, which usually takes at least two weeks. The longest case so far has taken one month.
“We are considering changing the penalty from a fine to criminal sanctions if the fined contractor doesn’t pay the fine,” said Ms Lam, adding that the authorities are also considering raising the cost of the fine by three to five times. However, any enactment of further measures will depend on the discussions between employers and laborers.
Ms Lam further acknowledged that the current laws and regulations to ensure occupational safety were mostly enacted in the 1980s or 1990s. “For sure, these regulations cannot keep up with today’s situation. In the new occupational safety and health regulations, we will surely raise the standards,” she stressed.
In addition, the DSAL will assess the contractors’ performance in meeting safety standards, which could affect their results in future tenders.
“It is not enough to curb the occurrence of industrial accidents with these regimes; it also depends on the industry’s support to enable the enterprises’ self- safety management,” said the DSAL official.
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