A 65-year-old local man was killed in an industrial accident, at the site of a public housing project in Zone A yesterday, by a moving crane, according to a message sent by the Judiciary Police (PJ).
The message identified the victim as the boss of a cement company.
According to the police, the Fire Service Bureau received a report about the accident at about 2 p.m. yesterday. Firefighters confirmed that the man sustained injuries to the abdomen and thigh, and no heartbeat and no breathing were detected when he was arrived at the private Kiang Wu Hospital.
Site workers told the firefighters that the man, who was standing near a large crane, and was knocked down by the moving crane, the message said.
The man was pronounced dead at 3.27 p.m. The cause of the accident was still under investigation, the message said, adding that the case has been classified as a fatal industrial accident.
The incident has been reported to the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) and the Judiciary Police (PJ) for follow-up, the message said.
The Public Works Bureau (DSOP) said in a statement yesterday that it and the DSAL extended their deepest condolences to the victim’s family.
The DSOP notified the project’s contractors to stop all lifting work at the construction site until it has submitted its report on the accident, while all lifting work would not be resumed until the report has been assessed by the two bureaus.
The statement urged the construction site’s contractors and on-site safety workers to ensure that the cranes are well-maintained. The statement stressed that both should provide appropriate guidance, while the cranes must always be controlled by qualified workers.
The statement underlined that the DSOP patrols construction sites daily and will immediately halt dangerous construction operations. The bureau urged the construction sector to join its work-site safety courses and study its safety instruction pamphlets.
Public Works Bureau (DSOP) and Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) officials inspect the accident scene at the site of a public housing project in Zone A yesterday. – Photo: DSOP
