The Development Bureau said today that it has issued notifications to the contractors and a subcontractor involved in a July 27 fatal industrial incident at a public works construction site in Southern District, suspending them from tendering for public works contracts with immediate effect.

The contractors involved were on the List of Approved Contractors for Public Works, while the sub-contractor concerned was on the List of Approved Suppliers of Materials & Specialist Contractors for Public Works.

As the body responsible for procuring services for public works, the bureau stressed that it attaches great importance to site safety at all construction sites under the purview of contractors on the lists.

It explained that the contractors and subcontractor have been instructed to conduct an independent safety audit to review their safety management system, submit an improvement action plan based on the audit, and then implement measures with a view to demonstrating that their safety management system is effective. A lifting of the suspension will be considered once these steps are taken.

The suspension from tendering is not limited to future tender exercises, but is also applicable to tender exercises which have been initiated but not concluded.

The Labour Department is investigating the industrial incident and will handle it in accordance with the law.

Subject to the findings of the department’s investigations, the bureau may carry out further regulating actions against the contractors and subcontractor which may include extending the suspension period or even removal from the lists.