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Hong Kong Construction Company Limited and Wah Kong Plumbing Drainage & Decoration Engineering Company were fined $90,000 and $125,000 respectively at Kowloon City Magistrates' Court today (October 18) for violation of the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations and Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance. The prosecutions were launched by the Labour Department.
The case involved a fatal accident that occurred on January 21 this year on a construction site at Yau Mei Tei in which a worker fell to his death inside the hoistway of a material hoist.
According to Regulation 38(1)(b) of the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, the contractor responsible for a hoist at the site and the contractor who has direct control over the construction work which involved the use of a hoist shall, before the hoist is used, ensure that every part of the load to be raised or lowered by the hoist is adequately secured so as to prevent danger arising to persons or property as a result of the slipping or displacement of any part of the load. Any contractor who fails to do so is liable to a fine of $200,000.
In addition, according to Sections 6A(2)(a) of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, the proprietor shall provide and maintain a system of work that is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risk to the health of a worker employed. Any proprietor who fails to do so is liable to a fine of $500,000.
Ends/Monday, October 18, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:30
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