Labour Department officers can issue smoking bans after inspections currently if construction sites contain flammable materials or pose high fire risks, but this approach falls short of the consensus in society, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said on a radio program today (Jan. 17).
Following the Wong Fuk Court fire incident, the government has begun advancing legislative amendments to mandate smoking bans on all construction sites, with no plans to allow designated smoking areas on-site, he noted.
Sun further explained that after the amendment, existing Occupational Safety and Health officers from the Labour Department will continue to conduct inspections. Employers will be required to establish procedures and arrangements for implementing smoking bans on construction sites.
He noted that while officers may not catch individuals smoking on the spot during inspections, if cigarette butts are found scattered across the site or workers are found carrying cigarettes, the department will examine whether preventive measures against smoking are in place. Examples include whether employers have set up cigarette storage areas at site entrances and whether surveillance cameras are installed on-site. If such measures are lacking, prosecutions may be pursued based on evidence.
Regarding major renovation projects, Sun pointed out that such projects often include public areas and residential spaces. It is expected that residential units will be excluded from the definition of construction sites, meaning smoking will not be prohibited inside residential premises. However, once outside these units, including scaffolding areas, they will be considered part of the construction site and subject to the smoking ban.
"After the amendment, if workers or residents are found smoking in public areas or on scaffolding, officers will be authorized to issue fines."
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