Build an Inclusive Workplace and Society
Fostering a Green and Safety Culture
From formulating policy and improving risk management to measuring performance and enhancing awareness and training, we adopt a holistic approach with a view to fostering a green and safe culture in our operations as well as the entire value chain.
Our department-wide ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System aligns with the international best practices and industry standards for protecting employees in our offices and project sites. An Occupational Health and Safety Representatives Working Group is in place to discuss matters of concern, monitor and measure our performance. Potential hazards in our offices and project sites are identified through regular safety inspections. When hazards are detected, we will determine their possible impact and develop suitable mitigation plans.
To raise safety awareness among our staff, we provide training in a range of topics, such as safe lifting operations for mobile plants, construction and environmental engineering safety, and site safety in maintenance works. To strengthen staff knowledge with our safety procedures, we conduct emergency drills across all staff levels and identify areas that need improvement.
Our contractors are also pivotal in nurturing a strong health and safety culture. In ArchSD’s projects, our contractors have initiated and applied various innovative practices in site operations to monitor and improve onsite sustainability performance, which progressively outperform the industry in developing green and smart practices. These include:
Energy Efficiency
- Install energy-saving lighting systems
- Use intelligent sensors
- Use renewable energy
- Build temporary transformers
Emission Mitigation
- Suppress construction dust
- Install noise enclosure and acoustic screen
- Operate hydraulic crusher for demolition work
Innovative Practices
Waste Management and Reduction
- Use pre-cast concrete
- Sort construction and demolition waste onsite
- Encourage recycling
- Upcycle used materials
People
- Provide rechargeable cordless tools for workers
- Conduct volunteer renovation work for neighbouring stakeholders
- Establish a 24-hour enquiry and support hotline for stakeholders
Safety Culture at Construction Sites
Adhering to the core values of professionalism, integrity and sustainability, the ArchSD maintains a robust engagement with our key stakeholders, including clients and business partners, to ensure sustainability practices are pursued throughout our value chain. We require that all ArchSD’s contractors and suppliers strictly abide by the Hong Kong Laws, such as the anti-corruption laws, upon submission of their tenders.
As part of ArchSD’s commitments to maintaining site safety, we require our contractors to follow our stringent safety requirements and industry best practices. We provide guidance to our contractors with various guidelines and reference information, which include but not limited to codes of conduct and practices, Work Safety Alerts issued by the Labour Department, site safety checklists, safety audit results, safety reminders, briefing notes, etc.
To further safeguard occupational health and safety of contractors, our Departmental Safety & Environmental Advisory Unit will conduct surprise inspections and raise site safety issues for their attention and corrective actions in a timely manner.
In 2023, we conducted a total of 247 site inspections to gauge performance on the following issues:
In addition, we arrange regular project meetings to keep track of and review contractors’ environmental and safety performance, as well as to proactively discuss with contractors for formulating rectifying measures and remediation plans to improve substandard performance once identified.
Raising and Recognising Sustainability Performance
In close collaboration with industry stakeholders, ArchSD is committed to delivering outstanding sustainability performance and service in our facilities development and maintenance. During the reporting year, we conducted a total of 56 workshops and talks and 98 publicity events to share knowledge and promote best practices in creating a quality and sustainable built environment.
We also recognise contractors, subcontractors and site personnel in demonstrating exemplary achievements in environmental performance, site safety and a considerate attitude in carrying out public works. We offer formal commendation mainly through two award schemes, namely the Green Contractor Award and the Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme.
Green Contractor Award
Since 2001, ArchSD has organised the Green Contractor Award annually with the aim of encouraging green initiatives (e.g. energy saving, water conservation, waste reduction, emissions mitigation, and environmental management, etc.) during construction, as well as to compliment contractors’ continual efforts in achieving sustainability. All our projects under construction in 2023, including maintenance projects, with contract sums exceeding $50 millions participated in the competition.
| Award | Awardee | Contract |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Award | Paul Y. - Able Joint Venture | Contract No. SS F501 Design and Construction of Redevelopment of Queen Mary Hospital Phase I - Main Works at Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong |
| Silver Award | China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited | Contract No. SS K514 Design and Construction of Chinese Medicine Hospital and Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute in Tseung Kwan O |
| Contract No. SS J513 Redevelopment of Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool Complex | ||
| Contract No. SS L514 Construction of Heritage Conservation and Resource Centre | ||
| Bronze Award | Gammon Construction Limited | Contract No. SS L501 Design and Construction of Kwun Tong Composite Development |
| Green Contractor Award (Term Contract) | Cheung Hing Construction Company Limited | Contract No. TC H938 Term Contract for the Maintenance of Slopes for which the Architectural Services Department (Property Services Branch) is Responsible [Designated Contract Area: New Territories and Outlying Islands (North)] |
| Special Award (Worker-centric Construction Site) | China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited | Contract No. SS K514 Design and Construction of Chinese Medicine Hospital and Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute in Tseung Kwan O |
| Contract No. SS J513 Redevelopment of Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool Complex | ||
| Contract No. SS L514 Construction of Heritage Conservation and Resource Centre |
Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme
The Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme, jointly organised by the Development Bureau and the Construction Industry Council, is designed to motivate contractors, subcontractors and all site personnel to operate responsibly and considerably at all times and take environment, public health and safety into consideration. 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the Scheme, the contractors of ArchSD received a total of 16 awards in the Considerate Contractors Site Awards (CCSA), Outstanding Environmental Management and Performance Awards (OEMPA) and Innovation Awards for Safety and Environmental Excellence (IASEE) categories, including:
| Award | Contractor | Contracts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCSA | OEMPA | IASEE | ||
| Public Works - New Works | ||||
| Bronze | Bronze | Merit | China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited | Contract no. SS L514 Construction of Heritage Conservation and Resource Centre |
| Merit | Merit | Merit | Hip Hing Engineering Company Limited | Contract no. SS L508 Design and Construction of Expansion of the Legislative Council Complex |
| Merit | Merit | Merit | Dragages Hong Kong Limited | Contract no. SS K506 Construction of Fire Station – cum – ambulance Depot with Departmental Quarters and Facilities in Area 72, Tseung Kwan O |
| Merit | Merit | Merit | Gammon Construction Limited | Contract no. SS L501 Design and Construction of Kwun Tong Composite Development |
| Public Works - RMAA Works | ||||
| Merit | Merit | Merit | CWED Joint Venture | Contract no. TC K928 Term Contract for the Maintenance of Slopes for which the Architectural Services Department (Property Services Branch) is Responsible [Designated Contract Area: Hong Kong Island and Outlying Islands (South)] |
| Merit | N/A | N/A | Chun Wo Joint Venture | Contract no. TC J921 Term Contract for the Alterations, Additions, Maintenance and Repair of Buildings and Lands and Other Properties for which the Architectural Services Department (Property Services Branch) is Responsible [Designated Contract Area: Wan Chai (South) and Wan Chai (North)] |
