With effect from 1 April 2023, the Construction Industry Innovation and Technology Fund (CITF) has provided an additional subsidy of HK$1.5 million to each applicant company to encourage the industry to adopt 4S. The combined funding ceiling for Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Advanced Construction Technologies of each applicant has been raised from HK$6 million to HK$7.5 million, of which HK$1.5 million is exclusively used for the procurement or rental of 4S products to encourage 4S adoption by the industry to enhance construction site safety. If necessary, each applicant can make use of the entire total subsidy of HK$7.5 million for the procurement or rental of 4S products. The CITF has conducted interviews with the successful fund applicants to further elaborate how they adopt 4S products in real life situation.
Chinney Construction Co Ltd - Project Nature: Site Management, Site Formation, Construction of Main Structural and related building works, including water supply, drainage and sewage system works, M&E works etc.
Q1 What 4S products are you using? What are the main features of the product?
A1 “The 4S product we are using is a safety system that combines a monitoring system with externally installed cameras on heavy machinery, with a centralized management platform and smart safety helmets. The cameras of the monitoring system enable the operators to monitor the surroundings of the machines in a real-time-360-degree view without any blind spot, during their operation. The centralized management platform allows the responsible personnel to generate essential QR codes for accessibility of different zones and submit various safety permits online on-site. Smart safety helmets enable real-time monitoring of health vitals of different site personnel”
Q2 How do the 4S products help improve site safety? Can you give us some examples?
A2 “We deployed the safety system in our ‘Three-Runway Projects’, namely the construction of the Base for the Police Action Force. With decreased weight and increased sustainability of the helmets, workers are more willing to wear them. Workers’ health conditions are hence more accurately and effectively monitored in the control panel of the management platform. Accidents such as injuries, faint, and heatstroke though happening in rare occasions and if it happens, it will be feedbacked to related supervisors and management via real-time alert signals and email notifications, and to support timely follow-up actions.”
Q3 What is the feedback from the personnel of your company and sub-contractors’ workers after using 4S products?
A3 “There is both positive and negative feedback. Safety is greatly enhanced, which reduces both workers’ and their families’ concerns. However, some experienced workers are against using the system, with argument that this decreases flexibility in their operations. Frontline foremen and supervisors need to spend efforts and resources in convincing and persuading workers to co-operate. A specialized workforce is also required to facilitate smooth and effective operations of such system.”
Q4 Will you recommend the 4S products to your counterparts?
A4 “We recommend the industry to adopt 4S products based on their corresponding needs. They can refer to the definition of 10 categories of 4S systems when they consider such usage. With suitable use, site safety can definitely be improved.”
