The Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) announced yesterday that 5,293 workers were injured in workplace accidents last year, of which 10 were fatal, with one death suspected of being due to violations of the city’s occupational health and safety rules.
In 2022, the bureau recorded nine fatal accidents at work.
A DSAL statement noted that the three main causes of accidents at work were “falls”, “trapped limbs or impaling or cut injuries” and “overexertion or muscle strains”, accounting for 25.1 percent, 20.1 percent and 16.0 percent respectively.
According to the statement, DSAL officials carried out 3,794 inspections in different workplaces last year, including construction and industrial sites, as well as business premises, among others, providing 447 suggestions for improvements and imposing fines for 82 unsafe working conditions.
In the cases of work-related accidents having been investigated and dealt with by the bureau last year, a total of seven people were fined for accidents caused by an improper working environment and violations of occupational safety and health rules, involving seven victims, the statement said, adding that while dealing with workers’ compensation for work-related injuries, a total of 26 people were punished for breaching the rules, involving 384 employees.
The statement underlined that the bureau will continue to adopt measures of “immediate punishment, suspension of work and raising of [work safety] awareness” to immediately stop hazardous work at sites that fail to follow occupational safety and health rules.
In addition to instituting disciplinary proceedings in accordance with the law, the statement said, operational staff and those responsible will be required to call a review meeting immediately to highlight the importance of occupational safety and health measures, adding that the relevant work is not allowed to resume until the unsafe conditions on the premises have been completely improved and all the requirements are met.
This undated handout photo provided by the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) on Saturday shows DSAL officials conducting a safety inspection on a construction site.
