Hong Kong landfill contractor ordered to stop using garbage tipper involved in Christmas Day death of worker as authorities launch probe
- The Labour Department says the fatal accident is ‘highly concerning’, ‘saddening’
- ‘The contractor cannot resume the use of the refuse tipper until the [department] is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken,’ it adds
Hong Kong authorities have ordered a contractor to stop using a refuse tipper after a worker who was trapped between the machine and a truck at a landfill site died on Christmas Day.
The Labour Department on Tuesday said it was “highly concerned” about the fatal accident at the North East New Territories Landfill in Ta Kwu Ling, adding the death of the 60-year-old man was saddening.
“We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued a suspension notice to the contractor concerned, suspending the use of the refuse tipper,” a spokesman for the department said.
“The contractor cannot resume the use of the refuse tipper until the [department] is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken.”
Police on Monday said they received a report from a colleague of the deceased at around 2pm that the victim was caught between the rear of a refuse container tractor and a refuse tipper. He was unconscious when his colleagues pulled him free.