DSD deeply saddened by passing of worker
The Acting Director of Drainage Services, Mr Robin Lee, was highly concerned about the work accident happened in a temporary material storage area in Sheung Shui Heung today (December 23). He was deeply saddened that a worker of a construction material transportation company, aged about 72, sustained injuries when moving materials and subsequently passed away. He expressed deepest condolences to the deceased's family and instructed the project team to seriously follow up on the cause of the incident, carry out a comprehensive review on the safe working procedures and measures, and offer appropriate assistance to the deceased's family.
The Drainage Services Department (DSD) is rendering full assistance to the investigations by the Labour Department and the Police. The DSD attaches great importance to work safety and has required contractors and materials suppliers to strictly comply with relevant safety guidelines. After the incident, the relevant work processes have been suspended until the DSD confirms that the contractor and the materials supplier have implemented necessary safety measures. The DSD has also urged the project team to carry out a comprehensive review on work safety and implement appropriate improvement measures to prevent the reoccurrence of similar incidents.
Labour Department highly concerned about fatal work accident that happened in Sheung Shui today
The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at an open area in Sheung Shui this morning (December 23), in which a male worker was struck by some falling metal pipes while preparing to unload them from a lorry. He was certified dead later in hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.
The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the use of lorry-mounted crane in handling of goods at that area. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken."
The spokesman added, "We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."
To ensure the safety of workers in handling goods, the LD reminds employers to ensure that goods, especially loose ones, are securely stacked on lorries, including by means of strong racks, to prevent them from falling during the handling. In addition, a competent supervisor is appointed by employers to supervise on site to ensure that the relevant risks are effectively eliminated.
The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years on conviction on indictment; or $3 million and imprisonment for six months on summary conviction.
In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application "OSH 2.0", website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.
The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.
