The Fire Services Bureau (CB) reported receiving a call about a person who was injured in an apparent work-related accident at the No.5 pier in the Inner Harbour area.
According to preliminary information by the bureau, a 70-year-old local man was found unconscious with injuries to the forehead and knee, and no sign of breathing or heartbeat at the scene. He was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment.
The Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) said in a statement yesterday that a local lorry driver died after being struck by cargo during lifting operations at a pier in the Inner Harbour yesterday, prompting the bureau to launch an investigation and order the immediate suspension of related work at the site.
According to statement, the accident occurred yesterday morning, when the victim was hit by cargo being hoisted at a pier on Rua de Almirante Sérgio. The man sustained a head injury and was taken to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre for emergency treatment, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The bureau expressed deep condolences to the victim’s family and said it would provide appropriate support and assistance, the statement said, adding that it immediately dispatched officials to the scene to investigate the circumstances of the incident.
According to the statement, the exact cause of the accident remains under investigation. If the case is confirmed as a work-related accident, DSAL will assist the victim’s family in following up on workers’ compensation procedures.
In order to ensure workplace safety, the bureau has issued a suspension order to halt relevant operations at the site with immediate effect. Work may only resume after occupational safety conditions are improved and approved by DSAL.
The authorities also urged employers to strengthen supervision, provide proper guidance to workers, and strictly comply with safety regulations and procedures to prevent similar incidents, the statement said.
The statement pointed out that the bureau reiterated the importance of lifting operation safety, noting that it regularly conducts training courses on crane operations and occupational safety, as well as seminars and educational outreach. The bureau urged the industry to remain vigilant and prioritise workplace safety to avoid further tragedies, the statement said.
This handout photo provided by the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) yesterday shows personnel dispatched by the bureau to the scene to assess the situation after the accident earlier that day.
