Letters | Drones and robots must be widely used to reduce worksite deaths
Readers discuss using drones to improve construction safety, how developers are turning to property technology and a more targeted approach to reducing escalator accidents in MTR stations
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In fact, such tools should be deployed even before construction starts. Drones can and should be used to view the actual site conditions. The information collected would be useful in assessing the risks of the intended operations and finding means to minimise the risks and even eliminate them.
During construction, contractors should also use drones to monitor dangerous operations.
The accident rate in Hong Kong’s construction sites has gone down substantially during the last decade as a result of collective efforts by all stakeholders. However, the rate of fatalities at around 20 per year remains consistently high. The imminent task should be to develop, encourage and use robots to replace humans in risky operations.
Dr Poon Sun Wah, adjunct professor, Department of Real Estate and Construction, University of Hong Kong
