The CIC upholds the belief of "Zero Accidents on Construction Sites." Last year, our activities focused on "Construction Safety", and this year, as the "Year of Professionalism", with improving construction safety listed as the top priority among the five main areas of focuses. We hope to strengthen the safety awareness of all stakeholders in the construction industry with the help of different initiatives.
In addition, the newly-announced Budget has laid focuses on the development of the construction industry, the CIC will allocate at least HK$220 million to assist the industry in retaining and training talents and promote construction safety.
Ensuring Scaffolding Safety is Everyone's Responsibility
Reviewing the data of the fatal accidents in the construction industry last year, most of them involved falls from height, collapse of bamboo scaffolding, improper use of lifting equipment, and Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs). Bamboo scaffolding has always been a pain point for the industry. Last month, the CIC hosted the "Bamboo Scaffolding Safety and Code of Practice Webinar", inviting experts to explain practical examples of safe bamboo scaffolding erection and dismantling, analyse bamboo scaffolding accident cases, and explain the relevant codes of practice, which attracted over 5,000 practitioners.
During the webinar, the representative of the Labour Department reminded the industry to learn from past incidents and to comply with the Labour Department's "Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety". The representative of the Hong Kong Construction Subcontractors Association pointed out the importance of workers attending scaffolding safety training. He encouraged companies to apply to become a "Truss-out Scaffolding” contractor under the "Registered Specialist Trade Contractors Scheme" to enhance their professionalism and gain more recognition. I joined members of the CIC's Construction Safety Committee and scaffolding instructors for the discussion. A construction company representative also shared his experience on stage.
Construction safety is everyone's responsibility. I urge all stakeholders, including property owners, property management, and workers, to play their part in ensuring scaffolding safety. The industry should also refer to the CIC's "Standard and Guide on Scaffolding Safety" to properly plan workflows, review operational gaps, and effectively implement safety measures.
Improving Lifting Safety Through New Technology
A visible and committed leader on safety makes a difference. Senior management of organisations should promote a culture of safety and lead by example. Regular site inspections by top leaders can significantly enhance safety awareness and effectiveness. I am pleased to see that industry leaders have started a self-initiated cross-company site visits whereby management actively visiting each other’s construction sites to exchange their insights on ways to improving site safety. Last month, I was invited to join CLP’s leadership team on a visit to a commercial project on Caroline Hill Road, where I was particularly impressed by the extensive use of digital technology to enhance construction safety.
One innovation that stood out is the "Remote Tower Crane System". This system is equipped with 12 high-definition cameras and real-time monitoring technology. It also has a foot-operated intercom that allows crane operators to keep both hands on the control levers. By integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, the system provides real-time alerts on weather conditions, load weight, and many key figures. This information helps operators avoid obstacles and potential hazards. Additionally, the air-conditioned control room on the ground significantly improves working conditions — eliminating the risks associated with working at height while saving time on ladder climbing. A safer and more comfortable working environment not only boosts efficiency, but also makes the industry more attractive to new talent.
Hip Hing Construction, the project's main contractor, has implemented a safety performance scoring system. Dedicated personnel are assigned to record key safety data for evaluation. This system helps assess safety performance and rewards workers who demonstrate outstanding safety practices. In addition, Hip Hing establishes their own academy which provides specialised safety training for subcontractors' supervisors, with a vision that only trained personnel are allowed to work at their sites in the future, and that helps to increase the safety awareness and expertise of frontline workers.
Moreover, since the multi-layer subcontracting system have led to different problems, the CIC encourages the industry to limiting the subcontracting practices to three layers at most, and I am glad to see that Hip Hing supports it. This case highlights the seamless collaboration between owners, main contractors and subcontractors. The project team's commitment to innovation has created a win-win situation for all. I hope more industry professionals will be inspired by this example.
Smart Site Safety System Helps Dynamic Risk Management
Mr. Rex Wong, Chairman of CIC's Construction Safety Committee, and I both accepted an invitation to visit the “Kwun Tong Composite Development Project” undertaken by Gammon Construction to learn more about its safety management practices.
Given the complex and dynamic site environment, the team extensively deployed the Smart Site Safety System (4S), which collects real-time data and transmits it to a central management platform, enabling management to have a comprehensive understanding of site conditions. The system also stores the training and licensing information of site personnel, allowing authorised management personnel to review it at any time, arrange training schedules in advance, and ensure the professional qualifications of personnel are valid. With advancements in technology, the flow of information can help frontline staff to make accurate judgements. The project team make use of the self-developed mobile phone application to digitalise the dynamic risk assessment, allowing management to better understand the safety situation in different parts of the site, anytime, anywhere, and thus provide a better protection for workers.
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ntegrating Theory and Practice: Essential for Safety Leadership
Leaders must not indulge in empty talk. On-site inspections can help management foresee construction operations and assess effectiveness. Cross-company site visits by leaders from different organisations can encourage the exchange of experiences and ideas, enabling management to adopt a user-centric perspective. Communicating with frontline staff can further stimulate innovative thinking by cultivating empathy and understanding. Such hands-on experience is essential for management and workers to work together to design a safer construction environment.
Top management needs to keep pace with the times and continue learning. The CIC will kickstart another series of "Master Class in Safety Leadership Culture" for project management personnel. Participants will learn from leaders of different organisations about leading a safety culture and ways to promote and implement safety measures to employees at all levels. I cordially invite senior management and project directors in the industry to attend to broaden their horizons and enrich their knowledge.
Building our Talent Pool: Nurturing the Next Generation
Financial Secretary announced the 2025-26 Budget last week, which has put certain focuses on construction industry. With the support of the Development Bureau, the CIC will allocate at least HK$220 million to assist the industry in promoting talent training and construction safety, of which HK$150 million will be used to support the training of approximately 2,500 young talents to gain knowledge and experience, and to obtain professional qualifications, with an aim to nurture and retain talents for the industry. Moreover, the CIC and the government will jointly invest HK$95 million to provide on-the-job training subsidies to students enrolled in part-time construction-related degree programmes in the 2025/26 to 2026/27 academic years. It is anticipated to benefit about 1,000 students, addressing the upcoming manpower needs.
Besides, the CIC will allocate funding to support construction sites to hold "Lunchtime Safety Talks", in order to reinforce the message of "Life First" to frontline workers and strive toward the goal of "zero accidents".
Call for Nominations to the Construction Industry Outstanding Young Person Award 2025
Talent development requires not only financial resources but also recognition. The CIC's "Construction Industry Outstanding Young Person Award" is now open for nominations. The event aims to recognise young construction professionals whose professionalism and innovative thinking are driving the industry forward. The biennial award has reached its fourth iteration, and this year's theme is "Navigating Excellence: Empowering Young Dreams Builders". There are three award categories: "Business and Management" ,"Frontline Construction Personnel", and "Technology Transformation, Design, Academic and Others."
Candidates must be between 20 and 40 years old. The selection criteria include personal achievements, contributions to the construction industry and society, and vision and commitment to Hong Kong.
We sincerely invite all colleagues in the construction industry to nominate outstanding young construction professionals around them, to recognise the rising stars in the industry !
Looking at the current situation in the industry, while construction projects aim to increase speed and efficiency, we must always remember that "Safety is No Small Matter, and Safety is Non-negotiable". To achieve efficiency without chaos, it relies on orderly planning of day-to-day operations, clear delineation of responsibilities at all levels, strict enforcement of safety rules, regular inspection and maintenance of equipment, and participation in professional training. As long as everyone involved adheres to the code of conduct and behaviour expected of professionals in the industry, the vision of zero accidents on construction sites can be realised.
