Hong Kong suspends firm from using chainsaws after fatal workplace incident
Authorities investigating case of worker, 63, suspected to have died after injuring his leg with chainsaw near monastery
Hong Kong authorities have suspended a firm from using electric chainsaws for tree-related work while investigating the death of a 63-year-old employee, who was found to have injured his leg with the device near a monastery.
The Labour Department said on Thursday that it was “highly concerned” about the incident that had occurred the previous day. Police said that an autopsy was under way to determine the exact cause of death.
Police said they had received a report at about 5.45pm on Wednesday that a 63-year-old man surnamed Lai had been found unconscious near Tsing Shan Monastery Path in Tuen Mun.
Lai was declared dead at the scene. The force said its preliminary investigation suggested Lai accidentally cut himself on the leg with a chainsaw.
It is understood that Lai’s colleague had last seen him at 9.30am before they left for work separately. It was not immediately clear what time the incident happened.
The force said the case had been classified as an industrial accident.