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The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about the recent spate of fatal industrial accidents. The LD is saddened by the death of workers in the accidents and expresses its deepest condolences to the victims' families.
A spokesman for the LD said today (November 5), "There were eight industrial fatalities in October 2015, of which six occurred at construction sites (including two involving mega works projects and three related to repair, maintenance, alteration and addition works). We are highly concerned about the situation."
The spokesman said, "The LD is very concerned about the accidents. We commenced immediate investigation as soon as we were notified of the accidents and issued suspension notices to suspend the associated work processes. We will complete investigation as soon as possible to identify the causes of the accidents and ascertain the liability of the duty holders. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."
The spokesman added, "After the accidents, the LD immediately contacted the employers concerned to follow up on the cases and remind them of their liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance in regard to the employees who died in work accidents. We will spare no efforts to follow up on the cases and assist the family members to claim employees' compensation. For families with financial difficulties, we will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to their needs and wishes, we will also refer them to the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance."
The LD continues to issue Work Safety Alerts through its website and email, giving brief accounts of the accidents concerned to contractors, trade associations, workers' unions, relevant trade organisations, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent recurrence of similar accidents. The LD also continues to collaborate with industrial stakeholders to organise work safety promotional activities and safety seminars under various themes, in order to enhance the safety awareness of employers and employees.
The LD is particularly concerned about the construction accidents that involved workers falling from scaffolds. The LD is in the course of issuing an advisory letter to all construction contractors in the territory, urging them to step up measures to ensure compliance with the work safety legislation regarding truss-out bamboo scaffolding works and work at height. The LD will also step up inspection and enforcement in this regard to deter unsafe work practices, and will take vigorous enforcement actions upon discovery of breaches of work safety legislation.
The LD appeals to contractors responsible for mega works projects and construction works to enhance their site safety management systems, particularly in respect of high-risk processes such as work at height, operation of heavy machinery and lifting operations. Contractors undertaking scaffolding works must strictly comply with the relevant safety requirements, including ensuring that scaffolds are securely fixed and of good construction, and that workers are wearing suitable safety harnesses securely attached to independent lifelines, in order to prevent accidents.
Furthermore, workers should, in their own interest and for their families, co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use protective gear properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.
For any enquiries about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officers of the LD on 2559 2297.
Ends/Thursday, November 5, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:11
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