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Accidents and personal safety
Opinion
SCMP Editorial
SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Cavalier attitude towards workplace safety a blight on Hong Kong

  • Death of three workers and injuries to six others at a construction site is latest tragedy on a long list of accidents and means every effort must now be made to increase awareness, tighten laws and regulations where needed and to step up enforcement

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Accidents involving cranes are rare. But assurances are needed that they are all safe for use in the wake of a deadly crane collapse in Sau Mau Ping. Photo: Jelly Tse
SCMP Editorial
The horrific collapse of a crane, killing three and injuring six others, on a construction site on Wednesday is the latest tragedy to blight Hong Kong’s unsatisfactory safety record for workers. The 65-tonne tower crane toppled and crashed into containers used as offices on a site where housing is being developed in Sau Mau Ping.

Workers were trapped in the wreckage. Sadly, three of them, an engineer, an engineering assistant and an electrician, did not survive.

Two of the injured are in a serious condition. It is one of the worst accidents in recent times.

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Police have launched a criminal investigation.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the preliminary suspicion was that the base of the crane had obvious faults. Similar crane operations under the same contractor have been suspended. Photo: Jelly Tse
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the preliminary suspicion was that the base of the crane had obvious faults. Similar crane operations under the same contractor have been suspended. Photo: Jelly Tse

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has expressed his condolences to family members. Our thoughts are with them.

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