More young people are joining Hong Kong’s construction sector, with the majority of recent trainees aged under 35, but many do not take up employment in the industry after they complete their training. More than 40 percent of construction workers aged 50 or older.

Secretary for Development Eric Ma Siu-cheung said that between 2009 and 2016, the Construction Industry Council trained more than 24,000 semi-skilled construction workers. About 60 per cent of them were below 35-years-old, well below the average age of 46.

“This shows that many young people are interested in joining the industry,” he said.

But real estate and construction lawmaker Abraham Razack said the figures do not show the “real situation” as the success rate of retaining trained young talent remained low.

“While [the council] has said [it] has trained more people, training more people and keeping people in the industry are two different things,” he said.

“When [young people] are training, they are there for a couple of months … they have a lot of [employment] choices after they are done. The number being trained doesn’t mean they are actually working in the industry.”

Trainees are paid while they are learning new skills, which acts as a buffer for some young trainees who are looking for a new job, Razack added.

He did not think offering more pay would solve the problem as “their pay was quite high at the moment”, due to the increasing construction costs and chronic construction labour shortage.

Ma revealed the number of registered construction workers had risen from 270,000 to 430,000 from 2009 to 2016 – an increase of 59 per cent. The number of skilled and semi-skilled workers also rose from 107,000 to 214,000.

Yet the industry still faces a shortage of between 10,000 and 15,000 workers for the next few years, he added.

Razack said better hours and eliminating the “perception problem” of working in the construction industry could help retain young talent.

source: SCMP

Hong Kong’s construction labour costs have vaulted 25 percent in the last 12 months, elevating the city into the third spot among the most expensive to build globally, trailing only New York and San Francisco, and stoking concerns of runaway home price inflation.

The average construction cost in Hong Kong amounted to US$3,704 per square metre in 2017, up 6.2 percent year on year, according to global project manager, Turner and Townsend. 

Labour was the single largest driver of inflation in building construction costs, with the average hourly wage in Hong Kong rising to US$15 per hour, up 25 per cent year on year, according to the report.

In comparison, hourly construction labour costs in Singapore are US$13.

Vanessa Cho, quantity surveyor at Turner and Townsend, said that the shortage of skilled labour will further push up the construction costs in the city in the coming next few years. 

“The public and private sectors are competing for the same resources from the same labour market. It is expected that with the shortage of skilled labour, wage costs will continue to increase and in turn further raise the cost of construction,” said Cho. “The challenge for the construction labour market is not just about the lack of numbers employed. The workforce is old, ageing and inflexible.”

According to the Hong Kong Construction Association, about 42 per cent of the Hong Kong construction workers are above 50.

It is expected that the construction costs will rise by another 4 percent in the city in the coming 12 months. 

“Higher construction fees will drive up the input [costs] of developers. Together, with the soaring land price, it is likely they will hold back completed units and only release the houses when the market price meets their expected return,” said Alvin Lam, a director at Midland Surveyors. “It will impact the home supply and thus may result in an even higher home price in Hong Kong in the coming years.”

Lam said that the construction cost usually account for 20 per cent of the price of a residential flat. 

Hong Kong home prices have been surging for 24 consecutive months, the longest stretch for a property bull market in a quarter century. Market observers forecast 10 per cent growth in prices for 2018. 

Still, Hong Kong’s high construction labour costs have been a regular fixture on the local development scene for some time. This year’s list saw Hong Kong climb one position, surpassing Zurich. New York topped the list with US$3,900 per sq m while San Francisco took the No 2 spot with an average construction cost of US$3,736 per sq m. 

Around Asia, building construction prices in Tokyo averaged US$2,560 per sq m, while Singapore was US$2,137 per sq m. 

On the mainland, Shanghai recorded the highest construction costs among major cities at US$807.3 per sq m.

source: SCMP

Working on raised scaffolding can be very dangerous whenever the proper safety precautions are not maintained. However, when the safety protocols and practices are observed properly, working on these structures can be just as safe as any other elevated construction technique. Lets take a look at 10 scaffolding safety tips, and how they keep you safe while working.

1. Get the right training

New safety regulations mandate that all workers who will be working on or near scaffolding be properly trained and educated on how the scaffolds are designed and operated. This includes how to get on and off of the scaffolding safely, how to prevent falls and how to respond to emergency situations while on the scaffolding. This type of training is absolutely essential to keep not only yourself, but everyone else on and below the scaffolding safe at all times.

2. Be prepared

Always ensure that you are inspecting scaffolding thoroughly before using it. Check to make sure the base is secured, and that it is level and adjusted for any lean in the building. Make sure that every single guardrail and plank is installed safely and securely, and also look out for elevation changes, obstructions (such as wires), and weather conditions.

3. Ensure everyone is licensed

OSHA (Occupational Safety And Health Administration) has claimed that rogue employers are a significant risk when it comes to working on scaffolding. These employers are unlicensed to be working, but do so anyways. Rather than go through the proper channels and become licensed, they throw together a pick-up truck, some workers, and uninspected building material. Not only does this put the workers in danger, but it also puts the future occupants of the building in danger as well.

4. Understanding load capacity

During the design stages of scaffolding, one of the main mistakes that is made is failing to consider all of the different types of load that the material will be under during construction and setup. In order to maximize the safety of everyone involved, do not attempt to overload the scaffolding with more workers than it is rated for in order to save time. Also take care to ensure that it is not overloaded by equipment, and that nothing is pushing against any guardrails.

5. Secure the platform

Scaffolding is designed to be braced by or entirely attached to a building. If bracing isn’t properly secured, scaffold movement may dislodge an end, which will reduce the stability of the scaffold. There are a few types of brace retention or locking systems on scaffolds. These systems need to operate freely during assembly and dismantling, and also be able to lock in order to prevent the brace from dislodging. You shouldn’t try and replace the proper parts supplied by the manufacturer with nails or other miscellaneous substitutions.

6. Take advantage of guardrails

When taking the design of a scaffold into consideration, aconstruction company must ensure that any scaffolding over 10 feet high hasguardrails on the three sides facing away from the building, at the very least.The side facing the building is still a danger, so it is recommended to havethem there as well. Guardrails should not be viewed as a replacement for truefall protection gear, which should be worn at all times while on thescaffolding.

7. Inspect it

Scaffolding structures need to be constantly maintained and inspected in order to retain their structural integrity and safety. Someone knowledgeable about the construction of the scaffolds themselves needs to inspect the structure to ensure that it is still functional and safe, making sure that boards are all still intact and that all of the components are still in good shape. Failure to keep these crucial components regularly maintained could lead to extremely hazardous conditions.

8. Keep things organized

Scaffolding structures are notoriously cramped, so it is extremely important that tools are not left out and are put up neatly on the scaffolding itself. Keep all of the walkways free from obstructions and trash that might be able to cause a fall.

9. Balance yourself

Scaffolding must be perfectly level in order to minimize the risk that workers can fall off and be injured or killed. Still, stay alert when on a scaffold, and watch your balance at all times.

10. Use protection, or PPE

This can include things like head protection, fall prevention gear, and non-slip footwear. It is essential to wear these measures at all times in order to maximize your safety, and the safety of all who are around you.

Source: industrialproducts.com