A 47-year-old male worker died after falling from scaffolding at a construction site in Sau Mau Ping on Sunday, according to the Labour Department.
The worker was building bamboo scaffolding on the exterior wall of a nine-story building under construction when he fell from height and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Labour Department expressed deep sadness over the fatal accident and extended condolences to the family. Officials immediately dispatched staff to investigate the incident and issued a temporary suspension notice to the contractor involved.
The notice prohibits the contractor from building, modifying, dismantling or using bamboo scaffolding on the building's exterior until the department is satisfied that appropriate measures have been taken to eliminate relevant hazards.
The department is conducting a full-speed investigation to determine the cause of the accident and identify any legal liabilities. It reminded employers to provide proper safety harnesses for scaffolding workers and ensure they are properly secured to appropriate anchorage points during work.
The Labour Department will issue a workplace safety alert through its mobile application, website and email in the coming days to brief stakeholders about the incident and remind the industry to take preventive safety measures.
The department will also assist the family in handling compensation matters and connect them with social welfare services if needed.