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Drainage Services Department

Sustainability Report 2014-15

Care for Our Staff

Over the years, we have arranged various training for our staff not only to develop their strengths and careers but also contribute to the community as much as possible. We endeavour to provide a safe working environment and various recreations for the sake of staff health.

Staff Training and Development

We are well aware that the sustainable development of DSD hinges on staff training. In 2014-15, we held a total of 618 training activities, including induction courses, internal training, duty visits, overseas conferences, etc. to enhance staff competence.

During the year, the average number of training hours of our staff was 31.8, much higher than that of the territory-wide average of 17.5 as announced by the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management in its 2014 Training and Development Needs Survey.

Average Number of Training Hours per Staff

Training

We arrange induction courses for new recruits to understand our works and commitment to wholeheartedly serving the public. In 2014-15, we held five induction courses for a total of 203 newcomers.

Training on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)

In 2014-15, we offered two Internal Auditor Training Courses for the OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System with a total of 44 participants.

During the same period, we held 14 kinds of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) training for over 310 colleagues. The breakdown is as follows:

Item Course Title Number of Participants
1 Basic Occupational Safety and Health Talk for Working at Sewage Treatment Works 69
2 Certificate of Competence in Display Screen Equipment Assessment 2
3 Certificate of Competence in Workplace Noise Assessment 2
4 Construction Safety 14
5 Dog Bite Safety 59
6 Electrical Safety 27
7 Training Course for New Operators of Fork-lift Truck 17
8 Revalidation Training Course for Operators of Fork-lift Truck 25
9 Safe Handling of Chemicals 37
10 Safe Use of Abrasive Wheels 10
11 Safe Working Cycle 9
12 2 Day Workshop on OSH in Arboriculture 3
13 One-day Training on Radiation Protection 27
14 Half-day Training on Radiation Protection 14
Total 315

Other safety training courses held in 2014-15:

Item Course Title Duration (number of day) Number of Participants
1 Confined Space Safety Training Course for Certified Workers Engaged in DSD’s Works 1 161
2 Confined Space Safety Training Course for Competent Persons Engaged in DSD’s Works 1 139
3 Mandatroy Basic Safety Training Revalidation Course (Construction Work) [Green Card Training Revalidation Course] 1 215
4 Mandatory Basic Safety Training Course (Construction Work) [Green Card Training Course] 0.5 77
5 Safety Training Course for Certified Workers of Confined Spaces Operation 1 201
6 Safety Training Course for Competent Persons of Confined Spaces Operation 1 126
7 Safety Training Revalidation Course for Certified Workers of Confined Spaces Operation 0.5 172
8 Safety Training Revalidation Course for Competent Persons of Confined Spaces Operation 0.5 81

Overseas Duty Visits

In addition to local training courses, we offer our staff opportunities of overseas duty visits for knowledge exchange with foreign experts in engineering to learn from successful experience, introduce various advanced technologies and enhance the quality of our services.

Regional Seminar on Challenges and Responses to Extreme Climatic Events

In November 2014, our colleagues attended the Regional Seminar on Challenges and Responses to Extreme Climatic Events held in Bangkok by the International Water Association. At the Seminar, they shared the experience in tackling climate change with other regional representatives, studied the threats and damages of flooding to the public as well as the impacts of drought on Asian countries. DSD will proactively formulate policies, improve the designs of drainage facilities, and raise public awareness on climate change to mitigate the relevant impacts.

Snapshot of the Seminar

Snapshot of the Seminar

Group discussion on the strategies addressing climate change

Group discussion on the strategies addressing climate change

Tree Management in the United Kingdom

In November 2014, the staff of DSD and other government departments visited London to study the experience in urban greening and tree management. They visited multiple government departments, organisations and professional arborist bodies specialising in greening and tree management, and explored relevant issues ranging from challenges in enacting tree legislation, risk assessment for trees, setting up funds to sponsor community tree planting and maintenance programmes, etc.

The delegation visiting a nursery

The delegation visiting a nursery

Food Waste and Sludge Co-Digestion Facilities and STWs in South Korea and Mainland China

In March 2015, our colleagues headed for South Korea and mainland China to visit a number of food waste treatment facilities as well as STWs adopting the food waste and sludge co-digestion technology. Both visits provided them with not only a better understanding of relevant techniques and experience, but also the first-hand observation on the transport of urban food waste and sludge to the treatment facilities. Such information has been conducive to the feasibility study on introducing the above technology in Hong Kong.

Food waste facilities at the Suyeong Sewage Treatment Plant in Busan, South Korea

Food waste facilities at the Suyeong Sewage Treatment Plant in Busan, South Korea

The centralised food waste and sludge co-digestion plant in Kunming, Yunnan, China

The centralised food waste and sludge co-digestion plant in Kunming, Yunnan, China

Fabridam Factory and Relevant Works in South Korea

In late 2014, DSD delegates visited a fabridam factory and the sites for two relevant works in South Korea to learn from overseas experience for future reconstruction of the fabridam at the Yuen Long Nullah. During the visit, they knew much more about the latest technology and the large hot-press for making seamless fabridams, and had a fruitful sharing with the site staff.

A fabridam at a tributary in South Gyeongsang Province of South Korea

A fabridam at a tributary in South Gyeongsang Province of South Korea

DSD delegates with the engineering staff for the fabridam works

DSD delegates with the engineering staff for the fabridam works

Membrane Bioreactor Sewage Treatment Plant in Jingxi, Guangzhou

In September 2014, our staff went to Jingxi in Guangzhou to visit the first membrane bioreactor sewage treatment plant in mainland China, studying the design of the plant as well as its operations and maintenance with relevant local authorities.

Mr GUO Hai-hong, head of the operation unit of the plant, explaining the work flow of the plant

Mr GUO Hai-hong, head of the operation unit of the plant, explaining the work flow of the plant

DSD representatives and the operation staff of the plant

DSD representatives and the operation staff of the plant

Goodwill Visit

In June 2013, DSD launched a two-year Goodwill Visit Programme to strengthen the communication between the management and frontline staff. As of March 2015, our directorate officers had paid a total of 22 goodwill visits to 30 workplaces where they chatted and exchanged views with the staff.

On a goodwill visit

On a goodwill visit

On a goodwill visit

On a goodwill visit

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