From Encouragement to Application - Macao's Occupational Safety and Health Charter

摘要

"Cooperate with industries, provide training/education and technical support" is Macao Special Administration Region government's policy to promote occupational safety and health. In the past five years, the rate of working accident is around 18 per thousand, with a trend of rising slightly. The best way to increase the safety awareness of the workers and to prevent working accidents is to carry out an effective occupational safety and health management system in the company. As a result, the Macao Labor & Employment Bureau intends to introduce the occupational safety and health management system to Macao's industries. As this has to be done step by step, hence, the Macao Labor & Employment Bureau brings in the Occupational Safety and Health Charter. The purpose of introducing the Occupational Safety and Health Charter is to encourage companies to set up an occupational safety and health management system, to do self- monitoring concerning safety issues, to promote occupational safety and health culture and to prevent working accidents and occupational diseases. This Paper mainly mentions the introduction and process of the application of the Occupational Safety and Health Charter in Macao. Since tourism and serving industry is the main development of Macao' s future economy, therefore, in year 2002, the Macao Labor & Employment Bureau started the promotion of the Occupational Safety and Health Charter in the hotel industry. Until December 2003, there were 21 companies/associations signed the Occupational Safety and Health Charter. During the follow - up, statistics showed that there is a significant improvement in the occupational safety and health condition of the workplaces.