Editorial | Safety of Hong Kong workers on site must be a top priority
Instilling a safety-first culture and protecting lives must take precedence as the city embarks on new, large-scale projects
Every time a worker dies, whether from a collapse of bamboo scaffolding, heatstroke or other causes, we are reminded of the need for the city to improve its safety record. This year, there have been an estimated 10 industrial deaths. Measures introduced include a heat stress warning system and new technology, such as the use of artificial intelligence to detect risks with bamboo scaffolding.
The maximum fine for breaches of safety rules was increased from HK$500,000 to HK$10 million (US$64,000 to US$1.3 million) and two years in jail in 2023. One company linked to five deaths has been removed from the government’s list of registered contractors.
Lawmakers have rightly questioned the leniency with which offenders have been treated in recent years, pointing out that two contractors convicted a staggering 77 and 55 times respectively had been allowed to keep their licences. Fines in the past six years averaged between HK$8,000 and HK$10,000, nowhere near an effective deterrent.
The figures were revealed in a report by the Ombudsman which highlighted systemic safety problems on different levels and warned of “blatant defiance” of the law in some cases. The number of industrial accidents fell by 9.4 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year. Still, 22 workers lost their lives.