Hong Kong suspends contractor from bidding for some government projects after fatal industrial accident
Hong Kong Free Press
Hong Kong authorities have suspended a contractor involved in a fatal industrial accident from bidding for some government contracts, as a worksite safety concern group called on the contractor to offer financial support for the family of the deceased.
A 42-year-old construction worker surnamed Poon died on Thursday morning after he was crushed between a dump truck and an excavator on a site at Highland Park in Kwai Chung.
In a statement issued on Thursday evening, the Development Bureau said it had suspended the contractor from tendering for public “site formation” contracts, effective immediately. Projects taken up by the contractor that were in progress at the time of the accident will also be halted.
The bureau has also ordered the contractor to conduct an independent safety audit and submit an improvement action plan and implement measures. Only then will the authorities consider lifting the suspension.
Subject to the investigation, the bureau may impose further regulations, including extending the suspension period and removal from the government’s list of approved contractors.
NGO calls for assistance
Fay Siu, the chief executive of Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims, told reporters on Thursday that Poon’s family depended on him financially, and called on the contractor to offer assistance to his family.
The fatality could have been avoided with the help of technology capable of detecting a person in the vicinity of a vehicle, Siu said as she pointed to the low adoption rate of such products provided by the government.
The government earlier made it mandatory for public projects valued over HK$30 million to adopt its Smart Site Safety System, while encouraging private construction sites to use it at a subsidised cost through the Construction Innovation and Technology Fund.
The Labour Department in a statement on Thursday reminded contractors “to ensure that a safe distance is maintained between the machines and the persons nearby.”
It also said it had launched an investigation into the accident to identify its cause, ascertain liability, and recommend improvement measures. “We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation,” the department said.
“Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of HK$10 million and imprisonment for two years on conviction on indictment; or HK$3 million and imprisonment for six months on summary conviction,” it added.
A scaffolder died last Saturday after falling off the side of a building at a Tsuen Wan construction site. On June 24, a cargo worker died after he was hit by metal pipes at a cargo handling site in Tai Kok Tsui. Both were served orders to suspend ongoing works.
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