The CIC recently organized a Silent Tribute event at a construction site in Sha Tin, where workers gathered to pay their respects to three fellow workers who had passed away in recent accidents.

CIC Chairman Ir Thomas Ho On-sing emphasized the importance of ‘Design for Safety’ in the industry, noting that the current culture of the construction industry in the SAR needs to be changed.

He pointed out that while the industry continues to record around 20 deaths every year, there is still room for improvement.

The CIC hopes to achieve a 50% implementation rate of the SSSS in construction sites across the SAR, both public and private, within the year.

The smart site safety system uses artificial intelligence to warn workers of potential danger, making a beeping sound and using AI cameras and sensors attached to workers’ safety helmets to track their locations and safety.

The system aims to enhance safety on construction sites, where workers may be exposed to fatal hazards.

The Hong Kong SAR government has already implemented the SSSS in all public works projects with a contract value of over HK$30 million, and will be subsidizing the extensive use of the system in private works projects through the Construction Innovation and Technology Fund.

The Fund has allocated HK$150 million for the building of smart sites, including HK$6 million already granted to companies for digitalization and safety measures.

In 2022, a total of 7,762 industrial accidents were recorded by the Labour Department, including 3,046 in the construction industry, which resulted in 17 deaths.

In addition, 32,026 occupational injuries were recorded, with 4,377 occurring at construction sites, resulting in 51 deaths.

The CIC’s efforts to promote safety awareness in the industry, such as the Silent Tribute events, are crucial in reducing these statistics and ensuring a safer working environment for construction workers.