Contractors could face fines of up to HK$400,000 (US$51,068) for failing to prevent smoking at construction sites in Hong Kong under a government proposal to improve safety following the deadly Tai Po fire last November.
The proposals, outlined in a paper prepared by the Labour Bureau, aim to tighten existing workplace safety laws and impose a strict blanket smoking ban on all construction sites.
Construction workers could face a HK$3,000 fine for smoking on-site, while contractors would also be held responsible for failing to prevent smoking and could be fined up to HK$400,000.
The government will also consider invoking the general duty provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance to prosecute proprietors or employees involved in serious cases, according to the paper.
In such cases presenting a catastrophic fire risk – for example, a worker smoking near highly flammable materials – the worker would be liable to a HK$150,000 fine and six months’ imprisonment, while the proprietor could face a HK$3 million fine and the same jail term.
The paper, which will be presented at the Legislative Council’s manpower panel meeting next Monday, states that the smoking ban will apply to all areas of construction sites, whether outdoors or indoors.





















