Labour Department launches special enforcement operation to enhance construction safety
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During the operation, occupational safety officers of the LD will inspect construction sites of various types and scales, including new works and repair, maintenance, alteration and addition works, especially high-risk processes such as work-at-height, scaffolding work and demolition works, as well as monitoring the provision and maintenance of safe systems of work for relevant processes by duty holders. If any violations of the legislation are detected, the LD will take stringent enforcement actions, including issuing suspension notices and improvement notices, and initiating prosecutions without prior warning.
For promotion and education, the LD will continue to step up efforts to disseminate occupational safety and health (OSH) messages, including work-at-height, scaffolding work and confined spaces activities, to duty holders through different channels, with the aim of enhancing the safety awareness of the contractors, employers, frontline supervisors and workers, and fostering an OSH culture in the construction industry. The LD is also reviewing the arrangements for mandatory safety training courses and has enhanced the supervision of course providers to ensure the delivery quality of the relevant courses.
In addition, the LD is seriously following up on the recent work accidents and conducting in-depth investigations to identify the causes of the accidents and ascertain the legal liability of relevant duty holders. The LD will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of legislation. Recent accidents showed that OSH should not be neglected regardless of the scale of the works or work processes. Contractors and employers shall properly assess risks, and develop and implement safe methods before commencing work. Employees shall also fulfil their responsibilities by co-operating with employers to thoroughly implement all safety measures.
Under the general duty provisions of OSH legislation, contractors or employers who violate relevant legislation are subject to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years. Employees who contravene the aforesaid provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Ends/Friday, November 7, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:34
Issued at HKT 17:34
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