Contractor suspended from public works tenders after fatal Kwai Chung crane collapse

The Development Bureau suspended the contractor involved in Thursday's fatal tower crane collapse at a Kwai Chung public housing site from bidding on public works contracts in the buildings category with immediate effect.

The contractor is on the List of Approved Contractors for Public Works. The bureau emphasized that it takes site safety seriously across all projects by listed contractors, including private ones.  

The suspension requires the contractor to carry out an independent safety audit of its management system, submit an improvement plan, and implement measures to prove effective safety controls before any lifting of the ban will be considered. 

The restriction applies to ongoing tender processes not yet completed.  

The Labour Department is investigating the March 19 incident and will take action according to the law.

Depending on findings, the bureau may extend the suspension or remove the contractor from the approved list.

The incident occurred around 4.27pm at a site on Tai Wo Hau Road yesterday. 

Fire services arrived within five minutes to find a 45-meter section of the crane had fallen from above the 40th floor onto a nearby hillside. 

The 62-year-old operator was trapped inside the crushed cab and pronounced dead at the scene, suffering severe head injuries and multiple fractures.

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Fatal tower crane collapse at Kwai Chung public housing construction site kills operator