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Fran Lu

A group of Chinese construction workers was hung from a gate by their harnesses at a building site as a training exercise after they forgot to wear safety gear at work.
A video of the “training” that many onlookers saw as a punishment and public shaming had 7.5 million views online after a passer-by filmed it on March 9, in southwestern China’s Sichuan province.
The local housing and urban-rural development department told Chinese media outlet Dafeng News that the measure was designed to educate the workers, who did not wear harnesses at work, about safety awareness.
The gate the workers were hung from is a dedicated temporary structure designed to allow workers to “experience harnesses”.
The company who run the construction site, Pingye Construction Engineering Company, did not respond to inquiries.

It is unknown how long the workers were hung for, and how they reacted .
Some people found the measure humiliating, as it resembled ancient criminal punishments such as shame parades through the streets, or hanging bodies under the city’s gate to warn onlookers.
Others supported it saying it was the best way for workers to remember.
“Which one do you prefer, being hung there in front of the public alive, or dead because of ignorance of safety measures?” said an online observer.
“This punishment is not too much compared with the potential punishment the negligent worker, their family and colleagues might face,” another said.
“The measure is well-meant but inappropriate. The workers are adults who can be responsible for themselves. Such a punishment is humiliating,” said a third person.
Another referred to an old saying to support the hanging measure: “People cannot be taught by people, but can be taught by actions.”
According to China’s Work Safety Law, companies are obliged to provide workers with protective equipment. They would face a fine of up to 200,000 yuan (US$28,000) if they fail to do so.
The person directly responsible for workers’ safety would also be fined.

Lawyer at Beijing Deheng Law Offices, Li Baokun, told Dafeng News that it is illegal to suspend workers in the air as punishment.
It is stipulated in the Chinese Constitution that citizens’ personal freedom and dignity shall not be violated, and it is prohibited to use any means to “insult, libel or falsely accuse citizens”.
Li said that employers should give proper safety education to their employees, and take measures to ensure their safety, rather than reminding them in insulting ways.
According to the Labour Law, people responsible for illegal punishment of employees could face a fine or a detention of up to 15 days.


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‘Punishment’ for safety lapses praised by some while others reject it as akin to humiliating public shaming methods meted out in ancient China


‘Punishment’ for safety lapses praised by some while others reject it as akin to humiliating public shaming methods meted out in ancient China.


Safety in China

Public shock as China construction worker trio hung on gate by harnesses in safety training

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}‘Punishment’ for safety lapses praised by some while others reject it as akin to humiliating public shaming methods meted out in ancient China

‘Punishment’ for safety lapses praised by some while others reject it as akin to humiliating public shaming methods meted out in ancient China