Two more lives were lost while working in a confined space. A similar accident occurred at the same place 18 years ago | Independent media report | Independent media

[Independent media report]A fatal work accident occurred at Yuen Wo Recreation Ground in Sha Tin last night. Two workers, aged 26 and 34 respectively, died while working in a manhole. The incident was the second death of a worker in a confined space after two people died at the Elements construction site last year. A similar accident also occurred at the site of the incident in 2006, resulting in two deaths. The Labor Department started revising relevant work guidelines after last year’s accident. However, when the Labor and Welfare Bureau responded to questions from Legislative Council members last month, it said it was still in the consultation stage with the Department of Justice and had not yet been implemented.

The Drainage Services Department stated that a number of workers were carrying out sewer cleaning works at a manhole at Yuen Wo Recreation Ground in Sha Tin last night. The workers were hired by a subcontractor responsible for the fixed-term contract for maintenance and construction works in Sha Tin District. The department stated that according to established work procedures, workers will introduce high-pressure water pipes from outside the manhole for cleaning, and there is no need to go inside the manhole. As of 0:00 a.m. today (April 23), two workers were found fainted in a manhole. After being rescued, they were sent to Prince of Wales Hospital with two other workers. After rescue, the two workers were 26 years old and The 34-year-old worker died, and the other two were conscious when sent to the hospital.

The Drainage Services Department said it was investigating the cause of the accident and was fully cooperating with the Labor Department and the police in their investigations. The department stated that it has been strictly requiring contractors and subcontractors to comply with relevant safety guidelines. After the accident, it has asked the contractor and subcontractors to stop relevant work and conduct safety inspections, and has suspended all similar projects under the department’s jurisdiction. Two I expressed my sadness at the death of the worker and expressed my deepest condolences. The Labor Department stated that it immediately dispatched personnel to the scene after receiving the report and is investigating the cause of the accident.

The incident was very similar to the confined space industrial accident that occurred at Elements on September 24 last year. After last year’s accident, the Labor Department said it would revise the “Code of Work: Safety and Health at Work in Confined Spaces.” In March this year, FTU Legislative Council member Kwok Wai-keung followed up on the progress. The Labor and Welfare Bureau stated that the Labor Department had consulted relevant stakeholders in October and December last year and was consulting the Department of Justice for opinions. The revision is expected to be completed in the first half of this year.

According to the current “Code of Work: Safety and Health in Confined Space Work”, working in a manhole must obtain a valid certificate issued by the person in charge after risk assessment, and enter the manhole within the specified time. Relevant persons must also hold a certificate that is capable of working in a confined space. Certificate of employment. The authorities plan to update the code to include that proprietors or contractors are required to use technological equipment to shoot videos at entrances and exits during the entire work phase. The Labor Department will also provide a template of a hazard assessment form.

In the incident at Elements, Shen Yuquan, a 62-year-old director of the second engineering company “Shen’s Founding”, and Ye Libin, a 40-year-old engineering project manager of “Shuaijian Mechanical and Electrical Engineering” were each charged with one count of manslaughter and will be sentenced on June 12 this year. See you later.

Workers’ Rights Council: Angry over another fatality in a confined space

The Industrial Casualty Rights Association stated that it was reported that four workers entered the manhole at that time. During the period, there was a suspected methane leakage. Two people escaped from the manhole and the other two were unconscious. The Workers’ Rights Council is very angry about another fatal accident in a confined space, pointing out that two workers died in the same location in 2006.

The Workers’ Rights Council continued to point out that it was sad that a serious accident occurred again before the new guidelines for working in confined spaces were implemented. The Workers’ Rights Council reiterates that before entering a manhole for work, a rigorous risk assessment is required to ensure that there is no unknown gas and instruments are placed for monitoring. Workers also need to wear safety belts and life ropes and connect to a tripod in the manhole.

After checking the information, we found that a fatal industrial accident also occurred at Yuanhe Playground in August 2006. Two workers entered a manhole to clean up the mud without any coworkers to help them at the wellhead. During the process, they inhaled methane gas and fell into coma. They were not discovered until more than four hours later and were sent to the hospital. No cure.

Li Jiachao: Industrial safety needs to be promoted jointly

When Chief Executive Lee Ka-chiu met with reporters before holding an executive meeting and was asked about the incident, he expressed his deep condolences to the family of the deceased and would provide all possible assistance. The authorities have also updated guidelines. He reiterated that industrial safety requires everyone to work together to improve it, including construction site providers, operators and effective management systems, and operate in accordance with guidelines.

In his opening speech, Li Jiachao only mentioned that last Friday (April 19), the China Securities Regulatory Commission announced five measures to consolidate the financial market, reflecting that the country is Hong Kong’s biggest backing. The five measures include: broadening the scope of eligible products for stock exchange-traded funds under the “Shanghai-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect”; including real estate investment trust funds in the “Shanghai-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect”; supporting the inclusion of RMB stock trading desks in the “Hong Kong Stock Connect”; optimizing funds Mutual recognition arrangements and support for leading mainland companies in their industries to list in Hong Kong. He also mentioned that this year marks the tenth anniversary of “Interconnection” and a number of activities will be held in Hong Kong and the mainland to attract more companies and funds to invest in Hong Kong.

The May Day Golden Week is approaching. Li Jiachao said that at least 800,000 mainland visitors are expected to arrive in Hong Kong, and about 5.9 million people are expected to enter and exit various ports during the period. The authorities have made full preparations and specific arrangements will be announced later. As for dealing with severe weather, he said Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-kee has held an inter-departmental meeting to formulate a series of measures based on last year’s experience, and details will be announced in due course.