Fatal traffic accident in Mong Kok
Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident happened in Mong Kok in the small hours today (January 1) in which three men died.
At about 1.44am, a private car driven by a 30-year-old man was travelling along the third lane of West Kowloon Highway towards Western Harbour Crossing with four male passengers, aged 19 to 34, on board, while a taxi driven by a 65-year-old man with a 23-year-old male passenger and a 19-year-old female passenger on board was travelling along the second lane. When approaching the segment outside MTR Olympic Station, the taxi reportedly cut the lane and collided with the private car, the private car then went out of control, rammed into a kerb, and crashed into a moving taxi and three stationary private cars.
Sustaining serious multiple injuries, the private car driver was certified dead at scene. Two private car passengers, aged 33 and 34, were rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 2.39am and 2.47am respectively.
The other two private car passengers, aged 23 and 19, with back injuries; and the two taxi passengers with limb injuries, were sent to Princess Margaret Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Kwong Wah Hospital separately in conscious state.
The taxi driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for enquiries.
Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Kowloon West is under way.
Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers at 3661 9023.
Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorm
As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.
A spokesman for the LD said today (March 15) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (like electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.
Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by the rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:
(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;
(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;
(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;
(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and
(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.
In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.
The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).
Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.
