Companies that provided workers for construction of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge fined HK$30,000 each over fatal 2017 accident
- WSS Engineering Systems and United Construction & Manpower Service convicted of failing to ensure safety and health of employees
- Magistrate Lam Tsz-kan says the two subcontractors had ‘turned a blind eye’ to working conditions and failed to ensure safety
Two subcontractors involved in the world’s longest sea crossing linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau were on Monday fined HK$30,000 (US$3,870) each over an accident in 2017 that claimed two lives and injured three others.
WSS Engineering Systems and United Construction & Manpower Service were convicted of failing to ensure safety and health of employees at the site of the mega bridge in Lantau.
In passing the verdict, Magistrate Lam Tsz-kan said as the two firms provided workers for the project’s three main contractors – Dragages Hong Kong, China Harbour Engineering Company and VSL Hong Kong – they had a duty to impose measures to safeguard employee safety.
He said the two subcontractors had “turned a blind eye” to working conditions. “A safe system of work had not been provided to the workers.”
However, engineering consultant Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong was acquitted of failing to provide and maintain a safe plant and system of work, as well as necessary safety training and supervision for on-site workers. Its engineer Wong Kwan-ho was also cleared of the charge of wilfully endangering workers.
