Hong Kong security guard dies after metal gate at maternal and child health centre collapses on her
- The tragedy occurred on Monday night and the woman was rushed to hospital but died from her injuries just after midnight
- Police have classified case as industrial accident and an investigation is under way
A female security guard died hours after she was hit by a falling metal gate at a car park of a government health centre in Hong Kong’s Yau Ma Tei.
Police received a report at around 6pm on Monday that a 4.7-by-2.5-metre gate at a maternal and child health centre along Yan Cheung Road had collapsed, injuring the 43-year-old woman.
Passers-by helped to remove the gate, and the seriously-injured security guard was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Jordan. She was certified dead at 12.13am on Tuesday.
The case has been classified as an industrial accident and a police investigation is under way.
The Labour Department said it was very concerned by the incident and promised to complete an investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures.
A suspension notice was issued to the security guard’s employer and occupiers of the premises to suspend the installation, maintenance and use of the electric gate.
The duty holders could not resume the work until the department was satisfied that measures to reduce the relevant risks had been taken.
“We will take action pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation,” a spokesman said.
The scene of the accident was on Tuesday sealed off and guarded by officers. People were still able to enter the health centre using a gate next to a car park.
The Labour Department said 1,232 industrial accidents were recorded in the first quarter of this year, marking a 28.1 per cent decrease from 1,713 cases in the same period last year. The figure recorded for the whole of 2021 was 8,865.
There are more than 30 maternal and child health centres in the city, which also offer family planning, cervical screening and other health services for women.
Additional reporting by Oscar Liu
