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SCMP Reporter

A CORONER yesterday ruled an accident the death of a worker who was not given protective equipment and received fatal head injuries when the bamboo scaffolding he was working on collapsed.

    Fung Yim-fai, 34, a mosaic tile layer, died in Tuen Mun Hospital on May 18.

  Two other workers who fell from the 19th floor with Fung - Yan Hing-sun, 36, and Cheung Tsz-ming, 29 - suffered multiple injuries but survived.

 Coroner Rodney Venning heard the building was in the construction site at Tuen Mun Town Lot 360.

    Scaffolding tiers consisting of upright and horizontal bamboo were erected from the first floor to the rooftop level of the building.

   On the day of the accident, Cheung laid wooden planks on the scaffolding between the 19th and 20th floors and climbed on to the scaffolding at the 20th floor.

  Fung was working just below him while Yan was working on the 18th floor.

   At about 10.15 am, the three were laying mosaic tiles on the building, when there was the sound of bamboo cracking. Suddenly, they plunged with the falling scaffolding to the second floor.

   Fung died of head injuries in hospital later that day.

  Labour Department Factory Inspector Chow Kwok-fai said in his findings that there should have been six upright bamboo poles supporting the entire scaffolding, but he found only four. He also discovered fractures and distortion in the bamboo structures.

   Mr Chow said the workers were not given any personal protective equipment, such as safety helmets and safety belts.

  The court recorded a verdict of death by accident.



Death fall of tile worker an accident