Work harder to make Hong Kong sites safety a priority
- Tragedy of two Hong Kong sewer workers is yet another grim reminder of city’s failings on occupational safety and what needs to be done.
Nothing is more heartbreaking than a family losing a breadwinner at work. Unfortunately, such deaths have become all too common in Hong Kong, raising questions as to whether enough has been done to improve occupational safety.
The government and relevant stakeholders must work harder to prevent such fatalities and injuries from occurring.
Investigations are under way after two sewer workers died in a manhole in Sha Tin late on Monday. The men, aged 26 and 34, and two other workers who also fell ill while working underground, were suspected to have inhaled hydrogen sulphide.
According to the government, they were employed by a contractor to clean sewers using high-pressure water jets, and should not have been required to enter the sewers under standard procedures.
The pledge by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu to fully investigate the deaths is all too familiar. Registration of three companies involved in the works has been suspended.