Hong Kong workplace fatalities surge 55pc in 2025 to 118 cases

Workplace deaths in Hong Kong reached 118 as of Monday this year, marking a 55 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims.

Sudden cardiac death has become the leading cause of workplace deaths in 2025, with at least 54 cases accounting for 46 percent of the total—a 30 percent rise from the last year. 

More than 70 percent of these cases involved individuals over 70 years old, including 20 who were over 60.

Excluding sudden cardiac deaths, other fatalities hit 64, 1.2 times higher than last year and the highest on record.

Among these, 16 deaths occurred in the Wang Fuk Court fire, including one case of trapping, hitting, or crushing, and 15 fire-related fatalities.

Ten domestic helpers were also killed in the Tai Po blaze, some whose funerals have occurred, and bodies will be returned home before Thursday.

Excluding the Wang Fuk Court fire, the construction industry recorded the highest number of deaths at 45 cases, making up 42 percent of the total. 

This was followed by the logistics and warehouse sector, where 11 workers died, accounting for nine percent.

Fay Siu Sin-man, chief executive of the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims, stated that although the government has increased fines for duty holders under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, the deterrent effect remains insufficient.

She urged the government to review cases with overly lenient penalties and to treat follow-up investigations into serious industrial accidents as potential manslaughter cases.

Siu also emphasized the need for the government to revise the "lowest bidder wins" bidding system, notably by significantly strengthening safety considerations to address the root of the problem.

The association recommends providing regular health check-ups for elderly workers and subsidizing employers to install defibrillators.

The group also urged legislating compensation for overwork deaths, publicly disclosing Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance violation convictions for transparency, and expanding the Buildings Ordinance to village and squatter houses.