Man dies in fall from scaffolding in 19th fatal construction accident this year

A construction worker has died after falling while erecting scaffolding, marking Hong Kong’s 19th fatal accident in the construction industry and second to involve truss-out platforms this year, according to police and a concern group.

The force said it received a report at 11.39am on Friday that a male worker had fallen and was found lying on a podium along Yu Chau Street in Sham Shui Po.

The man was rushed to the nearby Caritas Medical Centre, where he was later declared dead. Police have classified the case as an industrial accident, with the exact cause of death to be determined by an autopsy.

The Labour Department said it had immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving the report, adding that it was investigating the cause of the incident.

The department also issued suspension notices to involved contractors, halting the erection, alteration, dismantling and use of scaffolds on the building’s external wall until the relevant risks were addressed.

The man arrived at the site at around 8am and was putting up his second set of scaffolding when a support bracket was suspected to have come loose, causing him to fall, she said.