Hong Kong marks 25 years of workplace safety awards with focus on AI and tech
The Labour and Welfare Secretary addressed the 25th Hong Kong Occupational Safety and Health Awards, highlighting AI innovation, drone enforcement, and new safety guidelines to reduce industrial accidents.
Hong Kong's Secretary for Labour and Welfare, speaking at the 25th Hong Kong Occupational Safety and Health Awards on 10 November 2026, highlighted the growing social focus on workplace safety, noting that every industrial accident now attracts widespread public attention. The awards, organised by the Occupational Safety and Health Council, have grown from over 100 winners in the first edition to more than 1,000 this year, reflecting increased industry commitment.
The secretary outlined key government initiatives, including the updated "Guidelines for the Safe Use of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms" released earlier in 2026, following several related accidents in recent years. In July, the government gazetted amendments to the "Code of Practice for Working Safely on Bamboo Scaffolds" and "Code of Practice for Metal Scaffolds", strengthening requirements for guard boards, fire resistance of protective sheeting, and diagonal bracing design.
Since the territory-wide smoking ban on construction sites took effect on 17 July 2026, the Labour Department has conducted 7,300 inspections as of late October, issuing 84 fixed-penalty notices of HK$3,000 to individuals, including 28 based on public complaints, and five tickets to contractors in four cases for failing to enforce the ban. The secretary emphasised the goal is not just to ban smoking but to encourage quitting, with the slogan "Zero cigarettes on site, build a smoke-free culture".
The department is trialling drones equipped with infrared cameras and heat sensors to enforce the smoking ban. The secretary also praised the introduction of a new "Occupational Safety and Health Smart Innovation Award" this year, recognising the use of intelligent technologies including generative artificial intelligence to advance workplace safety.
At the second Occupational Safety and Health Innovation and Technology Expo in June 2026, the department showcased innovations such as a remotely controlled tower crane system operated like a video game, which could improve operator comfort and attract younger workers. A remote-controlled excavator system was also demonstrated. The secretary stressed that effective workplace safety requires cooperation among the government, employers, employees and families, with the goal that everyone can go to work happily and return home safely.
