2 Hong Kong men die in separate industry accidents, with 1 killed on building site and the other while working on road roller
- Construction worker dies after around 30 steel bars collapsed on top of him at site in Tsim Sha Tsui, while another is killed when part from road roller fell down
- Advocate for industrial accident victims says tougher penalties needed to provide greater deterrence against occupational safety violations
A construction worker died on Tuesday after around 30 steel reinforcement bars collapsed on top of him at a building site in Hong Kong, while another man was killed in a separate incident when a section from a road roller fell down.
Police said the worker was at a building site at 21 Ashley Road in Tsim Sha Tsui when the reinforcement bars, some of which measured up to four metres in length, fell from the wall where they were placed.
The force received a report on the accident at 12.31pm from the victim’s colleagues, with the Fire Services Department dispatching 10 fire engines and four ambulances to the scene.
The man, 43, suffered multiple injuries and was unconscious when he was sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he was certified dead at around 1.30pm.
Police classified the case as an industrial accident after conducting a preliminary investigation, with the cause of death to be determined after an autopsy.
The Labour Department said it immediately deployed staff to the scene after receiving a report of the accident and was conducting its own investigation. It later said it was highly concerned about the accident.
