With regard to the recent spate of serious workplace accidents, the Labour Department noted that a contractor was related to more than one fatal accident. The department therefore launched a citywide special inspection exercise to inspect all the construction sites under the contractor concerned.

Such an inspection includes determining whether adequate safety precautions are being followed when working at height, if the workers are wearing their personal protective equipment properly, if their work site is tidy enough to avoid potential risks, and whether workers are operating the machinery safely.

During the inspection, in addition to taking statements, officials make meticulous notes, take photos and measurements.

Labour Department Deputy Commissioner (Occupational Safety & Health) Vincent Fung said: “If we identify any abnormality, we will issue penalties or issue notices to ask them to rectify the situation immediately.”

In the past three days, the department inspected 13 construction sites under the contractor concerned. As a result, 55 improvement notices were issued and 21 prosecutions were initiated.

Mr Fund added that to safeguard the safety of workers, the department will issue a Systemic Safety Alert to all the stakeholders to remind them of the importance of ensuring safety in all the work sites. In addition, it will carry out publicity activities to remind all the employers and employees of the importance of maintaining safety in all the working environments.

Mr Fung reiterated that the department is highly concerned about the series of fatal accidents occurring in the past few days and would like to send its condolences to the families affected.

He made an appeal to all employers and employees not to overlook all the safety aspects at work that can lead to very serious consequences or even fatal cases.

The Government attaches great importance to site safety and continues to adopt a multipronged approach to uplift site safety performance.

In this regard, the Development Bureau issued a technical circular and the updated Contractor Management Handbook on November 23 and disseminated it to works departments and the industry.

Such efforts enforce and strengthen the regulating measures over approved contractors which have serious incidents or are convicted of violating site safety laws.