Hong Kong construction worker dies after being struck by falling glass panel
Hong Kong Free Press
Hong Kong’s Labour Department has launched a probe into a fatal industrial accident involving a construction worker who died after being crushed by a falling glass panel.
The Labour Department said on Sunday that it was saddened by the death of a 53-year-old male worker, who was killed on Monday after a glass panel of a curtain wall fell on him while it was being lifted.
According to the Association for the Rights of Industrial Victims, the fatal accident on Saturday took place at a construction site above the West Kowloon high speed rail station. It was suspected that a canvas strap used to secure the glass components suddenly broke, causing the victim to be crushed by the tilting panel. The worker was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The worker leaves behind his wife and an adult son, the group said on Sunday. It urged the Labour Department to thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident and publicise the results of the inquiry. Prosecutions must be pursued if any violations of safety regulations were found, the group said.
It added that contractors, subcontractors, and employers must make appropriate arrangements for the worker’s family members and assist them in overcoming this difficult time.
The Labour Department said it had commenced an on-site investigation and issued suspension orders to the contractors involved to halt all curtain wall installation work at the site. The contractors must not resume work until the department confirmed that measures were taken to abate relevant risks, the authorities said.
“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,” a statement from the department read.
As of December 22, the Association for the Rights of Industrial Victims recorded 75 cases of occupational fatalities this year. Among them were 40 cases of sudden deaths, while 19 involved being trapped, struck, or crushed, and eight were due to falling from height.
The group said it was worth noting that at least four deaths involved employees who were believed to have died after their collapse or injuries went unnoticed.
In April 2023, Hong Kong lawmakers passed a bill that raised the maximum penalty for employers who commit serious occupational safety violations from HK$500,000 to HK$10 million. Those convicted may also be sentenced up to two years behind bars.
A recent penalty, however, fell far below the maximum. Last month, Swire Waste Management Limited was fined HK$80,000 for violating the safety ordinance. The case involved a fatal accident at a landfill last December.
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