RECO7079 Occupational Health,

Safety & Well-being in Construction

Construction Safety
in Hong Kong

Dr. Daron Leung

In case of Fire
20220613 Lam Tin Tunnel a
60 tons segment collapsed
20220526 A temporary platform
collapsed 1 worker died
 ILO Report

 Every year more than 1.1 million people

die from occupational accidents or
work-related diseases in Asia and the
Pacific.
 World Day for Safety and
Health at Work – ILO said
 1.4 million out of the 2.3 million annual
work-related death toll are in the Asia-
Pacific region.
 "Most work-related deaths and non-fatal
accidents occur in low- and middle-
income countries of the region," the ILO
said.
 Global perspective in OSH

 250 million occupational accidents and 160

million occupational diseases each year
 every year 250 million accidents occur causing
absence from work, 685,000 accidents every
day, 475 every minute, 8 every second;
 3,000 people are killed by work every day, 2
every minute;
 asbestos alone kills more than 100,000 workers
every year.
 What is Accident & Fatality Rate?

 A mathematical • Accident Rate (per 1000

presentation to indicate workers):-
the chance of being No. of Injury x 1000
injured normally per
No. of Workers
1000 of workers.

 An AR =200 means for • Fatality Rate (per 1000

every 1000 of workers workers):-
on site 200 of them will No. of Fatality x 1000
get injury during the
No. of Workers
year.
Global perspective in OSH
2022 HK 266 fatal cases
0.093/1000 i.e. 93/100,000

2021 HK 263 fatal cases

0.091/1000 i.e. 9.1/100,000

2020 HK 234 fatal cases

0.08/1000 i.e. 8/100,000
Average No. of Construction
Workforce in HK
Construction Accident No. in HK
1989 -2023
Construction Accident Rate in HK
1989 -2023
Construction Fatality Number in HK
1989 -2023
 Landmark of Safety Related Event
There were 880 fatalities arising from construction
industry activities since 1st of January 1991 up to end of
1986 Chapte Safety
r 59 SM Officer
There&were Safety
2018
Supervisor
1071 fatalities arising fromReg.
construction industry
Reg activities since 1st of January 19989 up to end of 2022
1989 General Duty ClausesChapter
No. of Fatal Cases
59 WAH
1995 Chapte Consultation
Chapter
59 SM Paper on
Amd the
Reg Review
2019:of
16 Industrial
2018: 14

r 509
Safety
Reg Chaptein Hong Kong
2020: 18
Chapter GD 2021 23
r 59 Chapter 2022 17
509
1997
OSHO Occupational
Man
Safety Safety &Amd Health
59 WAH
Reg Ordinance
2023
& Max fine

509 GDsubsidiary
Chapter Training
Chapter
Regulations Increase
to HK10m
Chapte 59 Mand
1999
r 509 Safety Management Regulation
Safety
osho Training
2001 Mandatory Basic Safety Training
2001 HK Construction Industry Review Report
2002- Others legislations e.g. Gas Welding, Earth Moving
2016 plant etc.
Accident Rate in HK 2013 -2022
Source: Labour Department
Occupational Safety and Health Statistics Bulletin
Fatality Rate in HK 2013 -2022
Source: Labour Department
Occupational Safety and Health Statistics Bulletin
Industrial Accidents and Rate
2013 -2022
Industrial Fatalities and Rate
2013 -2022
Construction Accidents and Rate
2013 -2022
Construction Fatalities and Rate
2013 -2022
Occupational Disease
2013 -2022
Occupational Disease

2021 2022
 Death Toll of the
Rose Garden Project
Please name some typical
accidents likely to occur
in construction sites
06.06.1996

Rambler Channel
bridge
construction a
suspended cage
collapsed leading
to the death of 5
workers and 1
young engineer
whose wife just
pregnant and a
toddler 。
Garley Building
Fire on
20.11.1996
causing 39
deaths
 1998.02

Tower Cranes overlapped

and caused a worker on a
suspended working
platform fell onto ground
from 6/F
1999 Oxy-acteylene explosion
 Causeway Bay Hysan Plaza (2007)

Tower Crane collapsed in

the middle of a busy area
during dismantling caused
2 workers deaths.
From: Oriental Daily
13/09/2009

A temporary platform
collapsed in ICC
Building during
construction caused 6
deaths.
2014 New World Hotel
A 5-ton composite strut
hit a rigger nearby
causing his death.
2017.7.10
Cable tunnel
construction
flood with
water
3 workers
dead.
 2020.07.14

A 4-ton composite pipe

roll onto a worker
A platform
erected inside
an incinerator
collapsed 12
workers fell
 2020.04.05

A 1500 lb Stone fell onto the

proprietor of an engineering company
 2020.06.28

A stanchion fell and hit a

worker lead to his death.
A wooden
block fell from
15 levels above
killed a
worker
wearing safety
helmet on the
external
scaffold.
 2020.05.08

A mainlander stayed
in HK due to
COVID19 work
illegally in a
construction site as a
bamboo scaffolder
fell to his death left
behind a pregnant
wife and a 1.5 year
old daughter
Pregnant wife
and a 1.5 year
old daughter of
the mainlander
 24.12.2016

Scaffolder fell from a loosen bracket scaffold

on 5/F landed onto a female pedestrian walk
by.
No. 1 killer in Construction Sites
20220707 A demolition worker fell
through a hole land on G/F
20220613 2 Workers fell from
roof with the gondola
A grab fell from the crane and
hit 2 workers
The pendant rope of a crane
was broken
20220902 2 incomplete joint I-
beam drop and hit a worker
20220907 A tower crane
collapsed 3 workers died
20230217 a worker collapsed
and passed away on site
 DISCUSSION 1

What are the contributing

factors for high accident
number and rate in HK?
Special problems in Construction
Industry leading to High Accident Rate
Special problems in Construction Industry
leading to High Accident Rate
 Business environment and
competitive edge
⚫ Why OSH investment?
⚫ Why not leave it to insurance, the
medical system and social security to
take care of work-related injuries and
health problems?
⚫ Why should the boss care if workers
can’t be educated to take care of
themselves?
 WHY NEED SAFETY?
⚫ WE ARE HERE TO MAKE MONEY
NOT TO KILL WORKERS
⚫ LEGAL LIABILITY
⚫ CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION
⚫ MORAL OBLIGATION
⚫ CORORATE IMAGE
What is an accident?
An accident is …….

A series of unplanned occurrence

An accident is …….

 Breakdown of the system

An accident is …….

 Management Oversight
Accident Ratio - Heinrich 1950

330 acc. 1 Major or Lost Time Injury

29 Minor Injury

300 No Injury Accident

Accident Ratio - Bird 1969

>1.7 m acc.

1
21 type 297 org.
Serious or Disabling Injury
1.7 m mhw

10 Minor Injuries

30 Property Accidents

600 No visible Injury or Damage

 Accident Ratio - Tye/Pearson
74/75

1 m acc. 1 or Serious Injury

3 Minor Injuries

50 Injuries requiring treatment

80 Damage Accidents

400 Non-injury/Damage/ Near Miss

Let’s have a closer look!
 Why Accident is Costly?

 Cause loss
 Increase cost
 Reduce Company Profit
 Increase Society’s Burden
Pain & Sufferings
Loss of Program

 Improvement Notice
 Suspension Notice

 Safety will not

cause delay but
Accident will
 The Buildings Department had laid 9 charges against the registered
general building contractor and its authorised signatory, relevant sub-
contractors and individuals directly concerned……
 More than 60 charges were brought under separate legislation by the
Labour Department against the contractor, subcontractors and
individuals involved in the deadly crane collapse.
 Two contractors concerned were suspended from the public works
contractors list until December 31 and October 16, 2024, respectively.
 A Panel of Enquiry would be convened to review the degree of
responsibility of the individual contractors to consider further actions,
 The registration of the general building contractor involved in the case
expired in April. The contractor would be interviewed and assessed by
the Contractors Registration Committee for its renewal application……
Fatal - 40 days Suspended
Fatal - 30 days suspended
High Penalty
 HK$10,000000 for one charge +
imprisonment
Penalty depends on
 Maximum fine HK$10,000,000
imprisonment 1 year (April 2023）
 Previous conviction record
(Company record not by site)
 Injury occur
 Latest amount of fine
 Weather &/ Mood of the judge?????
Insurance is very COSTLY!
⚫ Report on Employee Compensation
Insurance Premium comparison between
1989 & 1999
⚫ Premium rate by 50%
⚫ Compensation paid out by 300%
Lengthy Procedure
 Litigation process might take as
long as 5-7 years
Society’s Burden
⚫ Medial Cost
⚫ Interpersonal Relationship
⚫ Family Problems
⚫ Social Problem
Loss of Skills
Increase Workload
 Payroll
 Meetings
 Administration
Loss of Reputation
Loss of Business
Loss of Profit
All these costs add up to eat
into PROFIT MARGIN!
Focus on Cost-Benefit Analysis to retain
your competitive edge in business
Benefits

⚫ Fewer insurance ⚫ Less employee turner

claims costs
⚫ Fewer man-day lost ⚫ Less productivity and
⚫ Less medical and quality losses due to
legal costs absenteeism
⚫ Enhanced corporate ⚫ Fewer intangible
citizen image costs
How can you help?
Understand YOUR role
Work
 Program
7
activities

0 2 4 6 8 10
month
Equipment
People
Method
….and What Else?

E T Y
A F
S
 It’s also part of your duties
What is YOUR Priority?

Finance? Method?

People?

Program? Equipment?
Successful Organization’s
Management Believes
⚫ Most accidents are
preventable

⚫ Safety is one of our

priorities

⚫ Safety start with

planning
Successful Organization’s
Management Believes
⚫ Safety Training is
essential

⚫ A safe project is a
well manage project

⚫ Accident prevention
is a worthwhile
investment
 Latest Trend in enhancing Safety
via 3”I”
 I…….nvestment
 I…….nvolvement
 I…….nnovation

› By Dr. Daron LEUNG Jan 2023

Site Safety rely on
Thank You
Data Source
 Labour Department - Occupational Safety and Health Statistics
 Performance Statistics - Site Safety | Hong Kong Housing Authority
and Housing Department