The Public Works Bureau (DSOP) said in a statement yesterday that it expressed serious concerns regarding recent reports from residents about safety issues at the Housing Bureau’s (IH) building redevelopment site on Rua Norte do Patane (沙梨頭北街), with complaints surfacing on social media, highlighting incidents of falling debris and paint dust damaging motorcycles parked in the vicinity.
In response, bureau staff were dispatched to the site to assess the situation firsthand, and swiftly ordered a halt to all cleaning operations involving the scaffolding at the project, the statement said.
Additionally, the statement said that it mandated that DSOP supervisors would oversee the cleaning of the ground and vehicles affected by dust and debris, adding that preliminary investigations revealed that the incidents occurred while workers were clearing debris from the scaffolding in preparation for subsequent dismantling activities.
During the process, cement fragments and paint dust fell from the scaffolding, raising suspicions about inadequate protective measures that led to the incidents, the statement said.
According to the statement, the bureau has instructed the contractor to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation, which includes a comprehensive review of the construction site’s safety conditions. A report detailing the findings is expected to be submitted shortly, the statement said.
Furthermore, the contractor and supervising unit must conduct thorough safety checks before work can resume, ensuring that all necessary precautions are in place to prevent similar occurrences, the statement said.
If the investigation concludes that negligence on the part of the contractor contributed to the incidents, the bureau said that it would initiate legal proceedings for possible penalties in accordance with regulations, the statement said.
This handout photo provided by the Public Works Bureau (DSOP) yesterday shows its officials cleaning the area and vehicles parked in front of the Housing Bureau’s (IH) building development site on Rua Norte do Patane (沙梨頭北街) yesterday.
