Accident
Accident
Accident
of
Site Accident
Cases
This publication is produced by the Occupational Safety and Health Branch of the
Labour Department
Brief Analysis
Brief Analysis of
of
Site Accident
Site Accident Cases
Cases
This publication is issued free of charge and can be obtained from offices of the
Occupational Safety and Health Branch. It can also be downloaded from the website
of the Labour Department at http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8d.htm.
For enquiries about addresses and telephone numbers of the offices, please refer
to Labour Departments website at http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/tele/osh.htm, or call
2559 2297.
III. Stacking of Materials Formwork panels being knocked over 16 follow the safety rules and work procedures laid down by the employers.
Should they notice any potential hazards at the construction site, they
Toppling over of precast concrete building unit 18 should bring them to the attention of the responsible persons so that
action for improvement can be taken.
IV. Confined Space Poisoning in manhole sewer 20
Poisoning in metal duct 22
This booklet is mainly prepared for construction workers and
frontline supervising personnel with a view to enhancing their
awareness of occupational safety. Through a brief analysis of the
V. Maintenance and Electricity Trapped during lift maintenance 24
causes of various real-life accident cases and provision of some
Electrocution when using hand tool 26 important points-to-note, it is hoped that workers and supervising
personnel will pay more attention to their personal safety, be more
Electrocution when carrying out electrical works 28 willing to report irregularities, and will make recommendations for
improvement, leading to better communication and co-operation with
Enquiry and Complaints 30 the employers.
1
Case (1) Falling from Scaffold
WORK AT HEIGHT
WORK AT HEIGHT
Brief Description of Case Illustration of Safe Practice
The bamboo scaffold of a building under construction had been partially dismantled. To
prevent the bamboo members of the scaffold from getting loose and falling down during
Use a safety harness and attach it to
Illustration of Accident
2 3
Case (2) Falling from mobile tubular scaffold
WORK AT HEIGHT
WORK AT HEIGHT
Brief Description of Case Illustration of Safe
A worker carried out painting of the fire mains installed on the ceiling from a mobile Practice
tubular scaffold. As the floor was slightly inclined, he kept the scaffold in a level position When erecting a
by putting a steel plate beneath it to prevent it from moving. Subsequently, the tubular mobile tubular scaffold
scaffold toppled over all of a sudden when the worker was painting from its top. As a on an inclined floor,
result, the worker plunged to his death. suitable mats should
be used to keep the
Illustration of Accident scaffold in a level
position
4 5
Case (3) Falling from temporary ladder
WORK AT HEIGHT
WORK AT HEIGHT
Brief Description of Case Illustration of Safe Practice
A worker lost his balance and fell to his death from a wooden ladder which was
supported by a big iron barrel underneath when dismantling a 6-metre high wire mesh.
Investigation revealed that the worker had drunk alcohol before work.
Illustration of Accident
6 7
Case (4) Falling with boatswains chair
WORK AT HEIGHT
WORK AT HEIGHT
Brief Description of Case Illustration of Safe Practice
A worker carried out paint work from a boatswains chair at the external wall of a
building. When he was working at the external wall on 14/F, the pulley from which the
Use a suspended working platform
instead of a boatswains chair
seat was suspended suddenly detached from the connecting bolt, causing the worker to Inspect, examine and test the
fall to his death. suspended working platform before use
Use the safety harness and independent
Illustration of Accident
lifeline properly
20
0
Eve
ry p
erso ;
work n ri
ing ding
pro platf on
perl orm a s
y a sha usp
lifelin ttac ll we end
e or he ar a ed
an a d to a safe
ty b
ppro n in elt
pria dep
te a end
nch ent
ora
ge.
Do not use
boatswains
chairs
8 9
FALLING OBJECT Case (5) A metal bar falling from height
FALLING OBJECT
Brief Description of Case Illustration of Safe Practice
After completing the water pump works, an electrician stayed on an uncovered podium
of a building without wearing a safety helmet. A metal bar of about 1.8m long and 10mm Harness
in diameter fell from height and hit his head.
Shell
Illustration of Accident
10 11
FALLING OBJECT Case (6) Bricks falling from height
FALLING OBJECT
Brief Description of Case Illustration of Safe Practice
At the material time of the accident, a delivery worker was operating a hoist to transport Materials are properly stacked
concrete bricks to the top floor. When the platform of the hoist moved up to the 10th floor and securely tied
after it was loaded with concrete bricks by workers on the ground, some concrete bricks The platform is enclosed
were displaced due to the vibration during lifting. As the frame of the hoist was unfenced, The frame of the hoist is
a displaced brick fell from the frame and hit the head of a worker on the ground. securely fenced
Illustration of Accident
12 13
FALLING OBJECT Case (7) Metal pipes falling during lifting operation
FALLING OBJECT
Brief Description of Case Illustration of Safe Practice
Two workers were working at the bottom of a shaft which was 35 metres deep from the Properly tie up the pipes to be lifted
ground, while another team of workers were lifting the metal pipes with a mobile crane on The crane operator should take a safe lifting route with the assistance of a signaller
the ground. When the metal pipes were being lifted over the top of the shaft, two of them
suddenly slipped and fell into the shaft, striking a worker working there.
Illustration of Accident
14 15
Case (8) Formwork panels being knocked over
STACKING OF MATERIALS
STACKING OF MATERIALS
Brief Description of Case Illustration of Safe Practice
The metal and wooden formwork panels for building construction were kept in a vertical Adopt a standard set of hand signals or use other effective means of communication,
position in a construction site. A bundle of wooden panels was being lifted by a tower such as walkie-talkies, for lifting operation
crane, which was operated by an operator holding a certificate of competency, to another Lifting operation has to be carried out according to the signallers instructions
location for storage. At the place of storage, the wooden panels had to be lifted across
some of the metal panels. Suddenly, the operator stopped the tower crane without
receiving the instruction from the signaller. The wooden panels then started to spin and
knocked down a metal panel nearby, crushing a worker who was cleaning the panel to
death.
Illustration of Accident
STACKING OF MATE-
RIALS
16 17
STACKING OF MATERIALS Case (9) Toppling over of precast concrete building unit
STACKING OF MATERIALS
Brief Description of Case Illustration of Safe Practice
A worker assisted in transporting four precast building units to a site by truck. Upon Use secured guy ropes or supporting
arrival, he first unloaded three building units from the truck platform on the site. The frames to fix the precast building unit in
remaining unit had to be transported to another location on the same site. While the position
worker was still on the truck platform, the precast building unit suddenly toppled over,
pressing him against the side panel of the platform and crushing him to death.
Illustration of Accident
STACKING OF MATE-
RIALS
18 19
Case (10) Poisoning in Manhole Sewer
CONFINED SPACE
CONFINED SPACE
20 21
Case (11) Poisoning in Metal Duct
CONFINED SPACE
CONFINED SPACE
Illustration of Accident
An enormous amount of poisonous carbon monoxide was produced when the fuel A safe system of work should be devised for work in confined spaces, which includes
generator was in operation conducting risk assessment for work in confined spaces and issuing the assessment
report by a competent person, carrying out the relevant safety measures, and
Poor air ventilation inside the metal duct had resulted in the accumulation of carbon drawing up emergency rescue procedures
monoxide Only allow workers holding a certificate for working in confined spaces to work in
Risk assessment for work in confined spaces was not carried out the confined space
22 23
Case (12) Trapped During Lift Maintenance
Illustration of Accident
Don
t
unduse
main e
tenar
Danger nce
under
mainten
ance
24 25
Case (13) Electrocution when Using Hand Tool
Illustration of Accident
Double insulated equipment usually
bears the mark
(See diagram below)
26 27
Case (14) Electrocution when Carrying Out Electrical Works
Danger
Under
Repair
28 29
ENQUIRY AND COMPLAINTS
ENQUIRY AND COMPLAINTS
Enquiry
If you wish to enquire about this booklet or require advice on occupational safety
and health, please contact the Occupational Safety and Health Branch of the Labour
Department through:
E-mail : [email protected]
Information on the services offered by the Labour Department and on major labour
legislation can also be found by visiting our Home Page on the internet. Address of our
Home Page is http://www.labour.gov.hk.
For details on the services offered by the Occupational Safety and Health Council,
please call 2739 9000.
Complaints
If you have any complaints about unsafe workplaces and practices, please call the
Labour Departments occupational safety and health complaint hotline at 2542 2172.
All complaints will be treated in the strictest confidence.
30
Published by the Occupational Safety and Health Branch
Labour Department
Printed by the Government Logistics Department 2/2013-1-B102a