Most construction firms support new rules and move to help workers quit in wake of deadly Tai Po fire, believed to have been triggered by smoking
Some Hong Kong workers have said they intend to quit smoking as a new ban on lighting up at construction sites came into force on Friday.
The ban was introduced in the wake of a fire at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court housing estate, a disaster that killed 168 people last November and was suspected to have been caused by workers smoking while carrying out renovations.
Under the legal amendments, anyone caught smoking at a construction site faces a fixed penalty of HK$3,000 (US$380) for individual breaches, while contractors face a fine of up to HK$400,000 if they fail to ensure their sites are smoke-free.
The Labour Department conducted spot checks on 58 construction sites on Friday and issued one fixed penalty ticket.
Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui Chark-shum said inspectors had also advised various contractors responsible for the sites on how to make improvements.
Hui said the department’s enforcement actions were not only aimed at curbing on-site smoking but were also part of ongoing efforts to ensure occupational safety and strengthen fire safety measures at construction sites.