Worker dies in excavator accident

Michael Shum and Stacy Shi

A worker died after being knocked down by an excavator and trapped under it at a construction site on the Peak.

Lai, 44, was hit by the excavator, which was reversing at the Pollock's Path site, when he was repairing another excavator at 11.13 am yesterday.

His right foot was severely injured by the excavator, resulting him being trapped under it.

Rescuers took a semiconscious Lai to Ruttonjee Hospital. He was declared dead after resuscitation.

Labor Department officers were dispatched to the scene.

It is understood that Lai, who is not married, is the youngest of five siblings, and was living with his mother. He was also the family breadwinner.

Lai had been working at the site for a few months, and his family members said he was responsible for operating and repairing machinery.

Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims took to Facebook to remind construction workers to be aware of their surrounding environment at all times.

"We should not stand in dangerous areas, and while machinery is being repaired, that section of the site should be cordoned off to protect the safety of the workers," it said.

It also said the person in charge should also make sure the driver operating heavy machinery is properly equipped with gear such as 360-degree cameras, sensors and alarms, so that the operator can avoid knocking over workers or objects.

The plot was sold to the High Grand Development in January 2017 at HK$2.8 billion.

The directors of High Grand includes Yeung Kin-man, whose name is spelled the same as the founding president of Biel Crystal (Hong Kong) Manufactory - a leading global provider of the glass cover of smartphone touch screens.

The project to build three three-story residential buildings, on top of a one-story basement, with a total floor area of 25,818 square feet, was approved in February 2020.