In response to the fatal industrial incident at a sewer cleansing worksite in Sha Tin today, the Development Bureau, as the party to procure services for public works, announced that it had suspended the contractors concerned from tendering for public works contracts pursuant to the regulating regime.

The contractors concerned are under the List of Approved Contractors for Public Works. The bureau issued notifications to those contractors today to suspend them from tendering for public works contracts in the roads and drainage category with immediate effect.

Moreover, the contractors have to conduct an independent safety audit to review their safety management system. Taking cognisance of the audit outcome, the contractors are required to submit an improvement action plan and implement improvement measures, with a view to demonstrating that they have an effective safety management system, before the lifting of the suspension can be considered.

The bureau noted that the suspension is not only confined to future tender exercises, but also applicable to tender exercises with procedures initiated but not concluded.

It added that the Government is investigating the industrial incident and will handle it in accordance with the law. Subject to the investigation findings, the bureau will impose further regulating actions on the contractors, including an extension of the period of suspension from tendering for public works contracts and even removal from the List of Approved Contractors for Public Works.

Meanwhile, the Labour Department stressed that it is highly concerned about the fatal accident.

An on-site investigation was carried out as soon as the department was notified of the accident. It also issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned to bar them from conducting drainage works at the manholes and the vicinity.

The contractors cannot resume the work process until the department is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risk have been taken.

It further stated that it will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures.

The department will also remind the employer of the liability for employees’ compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees’ compensation, and closely follow up on the case.