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Employees Our overall strategy for employee health and safety has been recently revised with the addition of the policy on HIV/AIDS and the management of communicable diseases such as SARS and the Avian Flu. Our policy on HIV/AIDS stipulates that the Corporation does not discriminate against infected employees and will continue to provide employment until their health impedes their ability to perform adequately. The recent emergence of viral infections that pose hazardous consequences for the workplace has prompted guidelines that ensure hygiene in workplaces, stations and trains including stepping up the ventilation systems to circulate fresh air and ensuring proper maintenance and cleansing of the ventilation systems. Work safety training is part of our corporate culture. All employees are trained in their immediate job-related tasks and in overall safety awareness at the workplace. Each year we stage the Corporate Safety Week which is designed to reinforce safety awareness and strengthen staff knowledge of latest developments in Hong Kong. The accident rate for staff in 2004 was again below the acceptable targets set, demonstrating effectiveness of our programmes and a culture of continuous improvement to achieve our corporate-wide goal of "zero accidents". The Corporation is mindful of the air quality and physical working environment for our staff. Air is monitored regularly at all enclosed work areas to meet our high standards and we require a smoke-free environment for all our staff in offices as well as workshops. Customers and community The strategy for a healthy and safe environment extends to the improvement of our rail operations and related customer services. Indoor and rail car air quality, temperature and ventilation controls, escalator access, platform screen doors, convenient pedestrian walkways and other features mindful of user needs provide for a comfortable, safe and healthy environment for passengers and the broader community which uses our facilities. We stage safety campaigns and public programmes to increase overall awareness. Staff Safety Month, the Safety Carnival held for the public, and the regular deployment of safety ambassadors to selected "high risk" stations spread the safety message to all stakeholders. In 2004, the safety procedures and staff training to handle emergencies proved their value in successfully managing an attempted arson attack during rush hour. Contractors Performance 2004 The Ten Safety Objectives detail the areas and targets for where and how safety is to be managed across the organisation. The objective brief, distributed to relevant divisional and functional staff outline the specific goals to be achieved and profiles the team members to take the leadership role in achieving the objectives. In 2004, we set 27 stringent safety targets with an additional four relating to a new set of targets for our property business.
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Health and safety issues reach across the six divisions and at all levels of corporate activities. Working with different sets of objectives, targets and processes to assess, prioritise, monitor and control risks, the health and safety programmes for our rail operations and other corporate activities are divided into three general categories -- employees, customers and community and contractors. Within each category we incorporate where practicable accepted international standards to assure global benchmarked targets are achieved. We combine these standards with our own stringent self-generated targets to comprise our formal health and safety policy. Our operations are recognised as some of the safest in the industry worldwide. 