Court makes review decision on sentencing for violating occupational safety and health legislation
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The case involved a fatal accident that occurred on March 14, 2024, at a warehouse in Sandy Ridge, New Territories. While a worker was operating a fork-lift truck for unloading of wooden battens from the trailer of a truck, a bundle of wooden battens fell from the trailer and struck another worker. The concerned worker sustained an injury and passed away on the same day.
Kinform Timber Company Limited, being the employer of the fork-lift truck operator, was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, and was fined $120,000 at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts on January 21, 2025.
After the sentencing, the prosecution filed a review application with the court regarding the sentence imposed on the relevant employer. The review hearing was brought up today before the Fanling Magistrates' Courts. The fine imposed on Kinform Timber Company Limited was increased to $160,000.
A spokesman for the LD said that the ruling will disseminate a strong message to all employers that they have to protect workers' safety and health at work in accordance with the laws. The prosecution will continue to pay attention to court rulings and will file review or appeal applications for cases where the sentences are manifestly inadequate and/or wrong in principle.
Ends/Friday, December 19, 2025
Issued at HKT 16:20
Issued at HKT 16:20
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