Hong Kong Urged to Prioritize Safety in Building Plans Amid Rising Fatal Accidents

Hong Kong should make safety design a part of all building development plans and address the culture of rushing work at construction sites, industry leaders have said after the city recorded 15 fatal industrial accidents earlier this year. Their calls followed the warning by Construction Industry Council chairman Thomas Ho On-sing on Monday that the number of such accidents was on the rise despite stiffer penalties, reflecting that a safety culture had failed to take root. Ho pointed out that up to 70 to 80 per cent of accidents at worksites were caused by bad habits and poor mindsets, while all 15 fatal accidents were triggered by the pressure to finish projects quickly, which he described as among the deadliest factors on construction sites. Chau Sze-kit, chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, said on Tuesday that safety awareness had improved but had yet to become second nature in a sector where “rushing culture” was still prevalent. “For instance, the media recently exposed workers on exterior scaffolding without wearing safety belts or hooking on to independent lifeline ropes. This is a clear case of safety measures not being properly implemented. Ultimately, we need to embed a safety-first culture,” he said. Chau said the issue stemmed from both worker habits and a lack of management supervision, while the provision of safety tools and improved design at the outset of construction would also minimise risks.