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A construction contractor, Chun Ping Nam, was fined $41,000 at Fanling Magistrates' Court today (July 31) for violation of the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance. The prosecutions were launched by the Labour Department.
The case involved a fatal accident at a construction site in Yuen Long on January 4. A worker fell 6.5 metres from the roof of a single storey structure.
According to Regulation 38B(1) of the regulations, the contractor shall take adequate steps to prevent a person from falling. Regulation 38A(2) of the regulations also states that the contractor shall ensure that safe access to and egress from place of work was provided.
Any contractor who fails to do so is liable to a fine and imprisonment. The maximum penalty for both regulations is a fine of $200,000 and 12 months' imprisonment.
Also, Section 6BA(5)(a) of the ordinance stipulates that the proprietor shall employ a construction worker holding a valid 'Green Card'. Any contractor who fails to do so is liable to a fine of $50,000.
Ends/Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:08
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