The Labour Department (24th) stated at the Legislative Council Manpower Committee that the number of occupational injuries and deaths in 2023 was 29,456 cases, with 24 cases being fatal industrial accidents, a number similar to the previous year. Deputy Director of the Labour Department, Fung Ho-yin, mentioned that enforcement actions have been strengthened. In addition to conducting surprise inspections, a special task force has been set up to combat unsafe practices.
In 2023, there were a total of 29,456 cases of occupational injuries and deaths, with an injury rate of 10.1% per thousand employees. In 2022, there were 32,026 cases of occupational injuries and deaths, with an injury rate of 11.2% per thousand employees. Regarding industrial accidents, the number of industrial accidents in various industries in 2023 was 8,134 cases, with an accident rate of 13.8% per thousand workers; in 2022, the number was 7,762 cases, with an accident rate of 13.5% per thousand workers, mainly involving slips, trips, falls at the same level, and injuries while lifting or carrying objects. In the construction industry, the number of industrial accidents in 2023 was 3,097 cases, with an accident rate of 27.6% per thousand workers, similar to the previous year.
Moreover, in 2023, there were a total of 24 fatal industrial accidents, a trend similar to the 25 incidents in 2021 and 2022. Of the 24 fatal industrial accidents, 20 cases were related to the construction industry. Fung Ho-yin emphasized the concern of the Labour Department regarding these situations and stated that they will continue to take proactive measures, including conducting surprise inspections at sites with poor processes and safety, strengthening enforcement actions, and establishing a special task force to combat unsafe practices.
Legislator Siu Ka-fai pointed out that the maximum fine for occupational safety and health violations increased last year from $500,000 to $10 million, yet the number of deaths has not decreased, questioning the effectiveness of increasing penalties. He believed that activities such as prosecution of employers and education and promotion are more important than increasing penalties. Labour sector legislator Chau Siu-chung mentioned that previously an employer was prosecuted by the authorities via a summary procedure and ended up with a fine of $50,000, which was not much different from past fines. He asked if the Labour Department would consider studying and filing an appeal.
In response, Fung Ho-yin stated that the Labour Department had discussed the feasibility of appealing the case with the Department of Justice, but the Department of Justice believed there was insufficient prospect of success. He pointed out that there are still few cases of “prosecutable offenses,” so it cannot be determined whether the penalties are too lenient. He also emphasized that if in the future other cases are found where the penalties may be too light, the government does not rule out filing an appeal.
Legislator Tin Pak-san mentioned the earlier implementation of mandatory measures for construction sites and smart construction sites by the Development Bureau, questioning the specific content of these mandatory measures. He also criticized the government for being “multi-faceted” and having a lack of coordination within its departments. He pointed out that there was no consensus between the government and the industry regarding the replacement of “bamboo scaffolding” with “iron scaffolding,” so the government would promote it non-legislatively, criticizing that the government’s occupational safety and health measures are often led by the industry.
Fung Ho-yin stated that the authorities have been in contact with the Development Bureau and mentioned that as long as government construction spending exceeds $30 million, the safety smart construction site system will be used. However, the participation rate of private construction sites is not high, so the Development Bureau has launched a certification program to encourage them to establish systems. As for the material of scaffolding, Fung Ho-yin believed that if bamboo scaffolding is used properly, the safety factor is equally high, emphasizing that it is crucial whether the industry will follow the guidelines. He also mentioned that there is a wide variety of conditions on construction sites in Hong Kong, so the industry’s choice of scaffolding material needs to consider the actual situation of the site.