Safety and Health

Occupational safety and health (OSH) has always been our top priority. While strictly adhering to all applicable laws and regulations, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, we require employees, project consultants and contractors to follow our Safety Policy when undertaking duties and works for the DSD. We also make every effort to optimise our safety management system and organise a host of the OSH training and activities, so as to empower and develop our staff to provide excellent drainage services to the public under the premise of safety first.

OSH Management

To control OSH-related risks, we have in place a Safety Steering Group as well as a number of monitoring committees formed by colleagues of different disciplines and grades, including the Electrical and Mechanical Branch Safety Management Committee, the Sewage Treatment Works Safety and Health Management Committee, and the Direct Labour Force Safety Management Committee. They meet regularly to discuss and review the OSH issues and initiatives.

The DSD Safety Policy accentuates a preventive approach. Potential safety hazards are assessed to prevent or minimise accidents. In the early stage of project planning and design, qualified professionals are engaged to stringently evaluate potential safety and health risks and hazards of the projects. During subsequent works execution, the OSH is ensured by frequent site inspections and investigations, while safety measures are implemented according to findings and recommendations of the safety assessment to minimise work injuries. In the unfortunate event of accident at any work site, there is an established procedure that requires the personnel concerned to report the case promptly and accurately. The person in charge will carry out investigations to gather evidence and analyse the cause, and appropriate precautions will be mulled to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents. In addition, adequate personal protective equipment is provided to protect employees' safety and health. The DSD remains open-minded and offers a liberal environment for employees to report potential OSH hazards and work injuries for improving safety management.

Figure of the DSD's work-related injury and high-consequence work-related injury¹ 2019-20

^{1. High-consequence work-related injury refers to work-related injury that results in a fatality or in an injury from which the worker cannot, does not, or is not expected to recover fully to pre-injury health status within six months. High-consequence work-related injuries recorded during the reporting year were mainly resulted from physical safety hazards.}

Occupational Safety and Health Training

In the year under review, we organised 24 types of the OSH training for our colleagues to raise their OSH awareness. The details and breakdown are as follows:

OSH Activities

To ensure that the OSH culture is embedded across the DSD, we introduced the Safety Caring Visit Programme in January 2019 to meet frontline colleagues working in sewage treatment facilities and gauge their views on workplace safety. In the year under review, 13 visits were arranged which were complemented by safety briefings, video shows and experience sharing sessions to heighten staff's safety awareness.

Visiting Ap Lei Chau Preliminary Treatment Works to communicate with colleagues

Complementing these efforts, the DSD actively organised and encouraged employees to participate in the OSH promotional campaigns during the reporting year. These activities include:

• 32 works projects joined the 26th Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme organised by the Development Bureau and the Construction Industry Council
• 34 works projects joined the DSD's Construction Sites Safety and Housekeeping Award Scheme 2019
• 2 safety talks and 1 site visit were organised for our colleagues, resident site staff of consultants and representatives of contractors

Workplace safety is not the only priority for the DSD, we place equally strong emphasis on employee's mental health. To promote a mental health-friendly working environment, a stress management workshop is held every year along with related seminars which colleagues are encouraged to attend. The DSD is a signatory to the Department of Health's Mental Health Workplace Charter. We were awarded the title "Mental Health Friendly Organisation" in January 2020 to recognise our effort.