Community topics
Written by: Lu Ningmin and Huang Weimin
2021-02-05 20:29
The last update date: 2021-02-05 20:32
In recent years, there have been frequent accidents of cleaners falling into the garbage chute. In 2010, when a cleaner stooped to clean up the garbage in the garbage room of Tai Yuen Village, Tai Po, he stumbled from the 19th floor and fell straight to the huge underground garbage bin and was rescued to death. Transported directly to the Taguling landfill.
Between 2011 and 2017, there were also 3 accidents involving cleaners falling into garbage chutes.
On the 22nd of last month, the tragedy happened again. A 58-year-old part-time cleaner surnamed Guan fell into the garbage chute from the 35th floor of Jingle Building, Mountain View Village, and fell to his death in the garbage room on the ground.
For 11 years, why is the garbage chute still a "death trap" for cleaners?
The 2011 Coroner's Report mentioned the fatal accident in Dayuan Village that year. At that time, the Coroner suggested to the Housing Department that the safety design of the same type of garbage chutes should be improved to ensure the safety of cleaners.
According to the law, the size of the notch of the garbage chute cannot be larger than 350 mm by 250 mm.
Hong Kong 01 inspected buildings where cleaners fell into garbage chutes in 11 years and revealed that two housing estates still have not improved the notch design.
From 2010 to this year, there have been at least 5 accidents of cleaners falling into garbage chutes in Hong Kong, most of which died on the spot.
After the fatal accident in Dayuan Village, the 2011 Coroner’s Report mentioned three recommendations, including the Department’s need to improve the safety design of the same type of garbage chute as in the case to ensure the safety of cleaners and cleaning companies. Adequate safety training and work tools must be provided to cleaning workers. When the Labour Department inspects cleaning companies, apart from reviewing relevant safety training information, it must also observe the workers’ working conditions on the spot and provide appropriate safety guidelines.
In addition, in accordance with item 23 "Construction of Funnels" (1) of the "Buildings (Refuse and Material Recovery Chambers and Refuse Chutes) Regulations" Chapter 123H of the Buildings Department, the mouth of each funnel must have a size not less than 250 mm A clear opening of 150 mm, not more than 350 mm by 250 mm.
After checking the information, it was found that after the fatal accident in Dayuan Village, the Coroner’s Report mentioned three suggestions, including the Department’s need to improve the safety design of garbage chutes of the same type as the case in order to ensure the safety of cleaners. The cleaning company must provide adequate safety training and work tools to the cleaning workers, and when the Labour Department inspects the Qingliang company, in addition to reviewing relevant safety training information, it must also observe the workers’ working conditions on the spot and provide appropriate safety guidelines.
In 11 years, there were 5 fallout accidents and two notches were not revised
Hong Kong 01 inspected buildings where cleaners fell into garbage chutes accidentally in 11 years, including Kam Pang House, Kam Tai Court, Tai Xin House in Dayuan Village, Man Yu House in San Shing Village, On Tao House in Chang'an Village and King Lok House in Mountain View Village , It was discovered that Dayuan Village and Sansheng Village had reduced the size of the notch after the accident. Currently, the notch in Dayuan Village is only about 340 mm by 230 mm. Steel plates and doors have been added to the notch in Sansheng Village to make the notch. The size is smaller than the legal standard. The garbage chambers in the two villages are also posted with notices to remind cleaners not to probe into the trough. Residents and cleaners of Jintai Garden also revealed that the management company has also reduced the trough by one-third after the accident. Described as "It's hard to take out the trash, but people must not fall to the ground."
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Mountain view village garbage chute is larger than the law
However, the size of the garbage chute in Chang'an Village is about 450mm by 500mm, which is larger than the law. People with small stature can enter the chute. Moreover, the garbage chute door of the building is not inlaid beside the steel plate, but a whole piece. As a result, the steel plates of the multi-layer garbage chutes were put aside by people and lost their original functions.
As for the Shanshan Village where the accident happened just last month, all the garbage rooms were locked and no entry was allowed. However, based on the number of stepped bricks, the notch size was about 450mm by 450mm. There was no notice in the garbage room. Safety rules for cleaners.
It turned out that both Chang'an Village and Mountain View Village had sold their units to their tenants, and an Owner’s Incorporated had been established. Although the Housing Authority still owns 50% of the property rights in Mountain View Village, the facilities for the sale of estates have improved. The OC was responsible for causing a major loophole in the improvement of the garbage chute design project.
Fatal accident in Mountain View Village│Housing Department said that the corporation was responsible for the notch project. 7 housing estates were issued a suspension order
Deadly Garbage Chute | A male cleaner in Mountain View Village fell to the garbage chute, residents and colleagues mourned and worshipped
Life-threatening garbage chute | A male cleaner in Mountain View Village suspected of falling from the 35th floor to the ground garbage room and being sent to the hospital
Life-threatening garbage chute|The cleaner of Shanshan Village fell off the garbage chute and died. There have been many similar tragedies
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Cleaner Public Housing Department Labour Department Industrial Accident
