Refuse disposal machine crushes Hong Kong worker’s arm in industrial accident
- Man, 49, was removing tape from machine used to crush styrofoam boxes at West Kowloon Refuse Transfer when colleague accidentally turned device on, police say
- Environmental protection officials say they have asked contractor and subcontractor to cooperate with Labour Department investigation
A 49-year-old worker in Hong Kong had his right forearm badly crushed on Thursday after it was trapped in a machine at a refuse transfer centre.
The man, surnamed Zhang, was trying to remove adhesive tape from the machine at the West Kowloon Refuse Transfer on Ngong Shung Road on Stonecutters Island just before the incident happened at 8.40am. Police said the device was used to crush styrofoam boxes.
A source familiar with the case said Zhang found adhesive tape had caused an obstruction in the machine and he turned it off.
A police spokesman said an initial investigation suggested the victim’s forearm became trapped when a colleague failed to notice Zhang was carrying out the task and turned the machine back on.
Staff members at the centre were able to switch off the machine and free the man before paramedics arrived, he said.