US Safety Council Honors HKUST

Abstract

[evdate 1997-05-26] For immediate release 26 May 1997 US Safety Council Honors HKUST A First For Asia-Pacific University The world's leading safety promoter, the US National Safety Council (NSC), has presented its Award of Merit for campus safety programs to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. UST is the first tertiary institution in Asia Pacific to gain such recognition and only the sixth institution outside the United States to place in the top two award categories in the 25-year-history of the Council's Complete Safety Program. Every year the Campus Safety, Health and Environmental Management Division of the NSC invites any of its 459 member institutions to submit their safety programs for a rigorous assessment. The NSC examines dozens of elements of each program. "We wanted to see how UST measured up to the best international standards," said Dr Joseph Kwan, Director of the University's Safety and Environmental Protection Office. "This award assures us that UST has been doing the right things. Our goal now is to build on this and further promote our safety culture." Notes to the Editor: Working hard to promote a safety culture is a never-ending task. Examples of activities in this area: To date, staff members and students have taken up nearly 8,000 training places on offer through the 25 different safety courses the campus Safety and Environmental Protection Office offers. Since 1995, departmental safety officers have stepped up efforts to ensure that everyone who works in a laboratory, regardless of his or her level, has been properly trained. Appointees must complete a detailed Safety Clearance Form that is signed by a supervisor before beginning lab work. UST works closely with regulatory agencies to ensure

safety. For example, our Microelectronics Fabrication Facility is the first in a Hong Kong tertiary institution to receive a dangerous goods license for operation by the Fire Services Department. For enquiries, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at 2358-6305 or e-mail pamedia@usthk.ust.hk. Home | News & Events | Press Releases URL: http www.ust.hk/~webopa/news/1997_News/news0526.htm Please send comments and suggestions to webmaster@www.ust.hk.