HK recorded 15 fatal industrial accidents this year

Hong Kong has recorded at least 15 fatal industrial accidents this year, matching last year's total figure.

This as the Construction Industry Council criticises the sector's negligence of safety at worksites, and urged for an improvement in workplace safety awareness.

Hong Kong's Construction Industry Council earlier held the opening ceremony for the annual Construction Safety Week at the Convention and Exhibition Centre, calling for further prioritisation of workplace safety in the industry.

Speaking at the event, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn says authorities will continue to push for the adoption of the city's Smart Site Safety System, also known as "4S", across construction sites in hopes of reducing industrial accidents.

Linn stresses one accident is too many, and calls for 4S to become the standard configuration in the city's construction sites.

But some in the construction industry raises concerns about the number of fatal industrial accidents this year despite the government strengthening measures targeting Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance offences.

Thomas Ho, Chairman of the Construction Industry Council, says many in the construction sector are already satisfied with current safety standards.

He emphasises among the 15 fatal industrial accidents this year, six were related to the government or government-related organisations.

Ho adds despite increased fines and jail sentences, a substantial amount of representatives in the construction sector still treat workplace safety merely as a slogan.

The CIC head further criticises a culture of rushing workers, which often leads to workplace injuries or even death.

Ho also reminds workers to bear responsibility for their own lives, telling them to reject their contractors' demands if they pose a threat to personal safety.