Construction Safety Demands Defined Responsibilities—Not Just Slogans

The construction industry encompasses a wide range of complex and high-risk activities, including working at heights, large-scale lifting, and demolition. Despite stringent safety protocols, accidents can occur due to any carelessness. While the principle of “Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility” is widely promoted, safety obligations across various roles often remain ambiguously defined. Frequently, accountability is only addressed after a major incident occurs, with contractors bearing the brunt of liability while individual responsibilities are overlooked.

The industry has always advocated the awareness of safety. As contractors and employers, we are deeply committed to safeguarding our frontline workers and preventing injuries or fatalities. Last year, the government amended the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, significantly raising the maximum penalty for serious violations from HKD 500,000 to HKD 10 million. This measure serves as a strong deterrent, and we fully support efforts to strengthen occupational safety protections. However, accidents persist—why? A critical gap lies in enforcement when incidents occur, how are responsibilities assigned to ensure compliance and self-discipline, that avoiding unnecessary risks?

A concerning mindset exists among some frontline personnel; workers, foremen, supervisors, and even project managers, who may assume that safety violations will not result in personal consequences, allowing them to simply transition to another project. To draw a parallel: If a negligent driver faced no repercussions for causing an accident, while the vehicle owner assumed full liability, would this approach be legally or ethically justified?

In fact, this mindset undermines the industry’s development. A key contributing factor is lack of detailed and clear statutory guidelines and explanations defining roles and accountability. Without precise regulations, individuals may rely solely on experience or vague notions of responsibility, lacking a concrete understanding of their safety duties, let alone bearing their own safety responsibilities or criminal liabilities.

Looking back decades ago, the government launched a series of public campaigns to promote environmental stewardship, combining public education with enforceable penalties for littering and vandalism. Citizens came to understand the necessity of “Keeping Hong Kong Clean is Everyone’s Responsibility” and the consequences of failing to uphold this principle. Similarly, the construction industry should adopt a structured approach. We advocate for collaboration between regulators and industry stakeholders to reform site supervision systems, clarify role-specific safety obligations, and codify these standards into official guidelines. Only when all parties fully comprehend their responsibilities, and the consequences of negligence can the industry achieve a reduction in accidents and elevate safety standards across the sector.