Hong Kong labour authorities have launched an investigation into the death of a 49-year-old worker who was strangled by his clothing getting caught in a machine.

The Labour Department’s statement on Sunday followed the man’s death at Tseung Kwan O Hospital on Saturday night, 10 hours after he collapsed in the basement of a sewage treatment plant in Wo Mei, Sai Kung.

According to the department, the worker’s clothes became caught in the concrete core drilling machine he was operating on Saturday morning.

A spokesman said the department immediately began an on-site investigation and issued suspension notices to the contractor involved, prohibiting the use of concrete core drilling machines at the site.

“The employer cannot resume the work process until the department is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken,” the spokesman said.

“We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation.”