Scrutiny pledged on high-risk maintenance work in Hong Kong after worker dies from falling platform at government-run sports centre
- Director of Architectural Services Edward Tse says he is saddened over death of man, 69, who was working on elevating platform at Kwai Chung sports centre
- He says his department will step up scrutiny of elevating platforms used in maintenance work and require contractors to do likewise
Hong Kong’s architectural authorities have pledged to immediately scrutinise high-risk maintenance work and step up inspections on the use of elevating platforms a day after a worker was killed by a falling structure at a government-run sports centre.
Director of Architectural Services Edward Tse Cheong-wo on Tuesday said he was deeply saddened by the death of the 69-year-old victim and had ordered the contractor involved to provide appropriate help to the worker’s family.
The department would increase scrutiny of the use of elevating platforms and require contractors to step up measures to ensure the safe use of such facilities, he added.
“The Architectural Services Department will also inspect high-risk maintenance works immediately to ensure their safety before proceeding with the work,” the agency said.
It added it had suspended the project involved in Monday’s accident, pending an investigation by the department and other relevant government units.
The case on Monday morning centred on an elevating platform that had tipped over and killed a worker while he was fixing a leak nine metres (30 feet) above the ground at the North Kwai Chung Tang Shiu Kin Sports Centre.
Police said an autopsy would be conducted on the man, who had about a decade of maintenance work experience. Two other workers at the site were not on the platform when the accident struck, the force added.
Louis Szeto Ka-sing, a former chairman of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers’ mechanical, marine, naval architecture and chemical division, said that given the platform was nine metres above ground, it could have easily fallen if its supporting legs were not extended properly.
“I also fail to see a safety belt attached to the worker,” he said. “As he was working from a height, he could have attached the belt to the ceiling so he would not fall if the platform tipped over.”
Szeto added that an older elevated platform did not necessarily pose a problem as the Labour Department had guidelines for operators to follow, stressing that site safety could be compromised due to a number of factors, including the working environment and supporting facilities.
Hong Kong worker, 69, dies after platform topples over in sports centre
A spokesman for the department on Monday night said it would complete the investigation as soon as possible. It aimed to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of duty holders, recommend improvement measures and take legal action if there was any violation of the work safety legislation.
He added that the department would issue a work safety alert, giving a brief account of the accident and reminders of work safety to duty holders, workers’ unions and professional bodies of safety practitioners.
On Tuesday, Fay Siu Sin-man, chief executive of the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims, said that based on photos obtained, the elevating platform used in the accident was believed to be an outdated one, made in the 1990s.
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She said it was possible that a malfunctioning support foot, which failed to extend to support the structure, caused the incident.
“The urgent task now is to find out how many such outdated elevating platforms are in Hong Kong and to stop using those not functioning properly,” Siu said.
She also called on the government to proactively disclose information concerning the incident to avoid causing confusion.
There have been at least five fatal accidents involving elevating platforms in Hong Kong since 2021, according to Siu.
Hong Kong worker loses part of right forearm during routine escalator inspection
On May 26, 2022, an elevating platform at a construction site in Tseung Kwan O suddenly collapsed when a worker dismantled it.
The worker was injured when the collapsed platform hit him. He was certified dead later in hospital.
The site contractor, Hip Hing Engineering Company Limited, was fined HK$130,000 (US$16,650) at Kwun Tong Court for violating safety legislation this May.
