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Bestyield Plant Service Limited was fined a total of $36,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Court today (December 2) for violations of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Lifting Appliances and Lifting Gear) Regulations. The prosecutions were launched by the Labour Department.
The case involved a fatal accident on July 10, 2007, on a building demolition site in Causeway Bay. Two workers died and five others injured when a tower crane collapsed during its mast lowering work.
According to Sections 6A(1), 6A(2)(a), 6A(2)(c) and 6A(3) of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, the proprietor shall provide and maintain a system of work that is safe and without risks to health; and provide such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary, to ensure the health and safety at work of the employees. Any proprietor who fails to do so is liable to a fine of $500,000.
According to Regulations 5(1), 5(5), 7A and 19 of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Lifting Appliances and Lifting Gear) Regulations, the owner shall ensure that a lifting appliance is not used unless it has been thoroughly examined by a competent examiner in the preceding 12 months; and it has been further tested and thoroughly examined by a competent examiner after substantial repair; and it has been inspected within the preceding 7 days by a competent person. Any owner who fails to do so is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000.
Ends/Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:27
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