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Author: Guo Xiaoqing
2020-10-31 08:00
Last update date: 2020-10-31 08:00
During the epidemic, a large number of infrastructure projects were suspended. Even if construction starts as scheduled, workers will still face the risk of contracting new coronary pneumonia.
With the suspension of construction work, the number of industrial accidents and occupational casualties in the first quarter of this year was about 30% less than the same period last year.
As for the overall number of occupational injuries and deaths in 2019, the number of occupational fatalities has also decreased, but the number of occupational deaths has increased by about 14% compared with 2018.
The number of industrial accidents and occupational injuries fell sharply in the first quarter of this year
Under the new crown pneumonia, all types of work are facing a reduction in jobs, which may be one of the reasons for the decrease in the number of occupational accidents. The number of industrial accidents in the first quarter of this year was about 38% less than the same period last year. Among them, the number of accidents in catering services fell more. There were 41%, but it was still the industry with the most accidents, followed by the construction industry. There were 425 accidents in 2020, about 33% less than last year.
The Labour Department releases occupational safety and health statistics for the first quarter of 2020.
(Screenshot of Labour Department website)
Occupational deaths rise, non-accidental deaths account for the majority
The overall number of occupational injuries and deaths in Hong Kong continued to decline. There were 32,872 injuries and deaths in 2019, a decrease of about 8% compared with 2015.
However, the number of occupational deaths has risen by 40%, from 177 in 2015 to 249 in 2019. More than half of them were caused by non-accidental deaths, such as overwork. However, the Labour Department has not disclosed the details of the relevant occupational injuries. .
According to the statistics of the Industrial Injury Rights Association, a total of 9 cases of sudden death during work were received in 2019, which may involve overwork. The group urges the authorities to amend the regulations as soon as possible and disclose the situation of related occupational injuries. A study of related non-accidental death cases will be carried out in the second half of this year and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
According to the existing "Employees Compensation Ordinance" (Chapter 282), the employer of an employee who has suffered a work-related accident or is diagnosed with an occupational disease specified in the Ordinance shall be liable for compensation under the Ordinance.
However, the government has not defined "death from overwork" and it is difficult for employees to apply for compensation.
At present, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and other places have regarded "death from overwork" as work-related injury. In Japan, employees who work overtime for more than 40 hours a week are considered "overworked" and may be compensated.
▼The situation of "death from overwork" in Hong Kong and Japan▼
The main cause of accidental death was falling from height, accounting for 40% of the total
In addition to non-accidental deaths, the other half of the deaths are mostly related to industrial accidents. Of the 22 occupational deaths in 2019, 16 were accidents in the construction industry, two more than in 2018.
Among them, more than 40%, that is, 7 cases were "the human body fell from a height", similar to the past.
Although the number of accidents in the catering industry is relatively large in all major industries, there are few deaths, (data picture)
01 Data Work Injury