The accident, which took place during a de-climbing operation, sparked a safety sweep in Hong Kong, and added to global concern over the safe operation of climbing cranes.
Three weeks on from the accident, Stephen Frost, of Corporate Social Responsibilty Asia, took the attached photo from the 11th floor of the nearby Times Square building, showing the crane still laying where it fell.
The Hong Kong Construction Industry Training Authority has started a new training course, aimed at improving and reinforcing skills among crane operators. Conrad Wong Tin-cheung, president of the Hong Kong Construction Association told The Hong Kong Standard, “”We are still unable to determine how the accident [in Causeway Bay] happened. But we cannot afford to sit back and wait for the investigation report before strengthening safety standards.”
Around 80 crane drivers are expected to complete the two-day course by the end of September, and more than 200 are lined up for training over the next three months. Course graduates will receive a “Silver Card”, which the industry is promoting to contractors as the a mark of highly-skilled workers.
The industry in the city is also devloping a new, more detailed, best practice guide and will review tower crane procedures.
Three weeks on from the Causeway Bay accident, the Wolffkran crane remains draped over the building it was in the midst of demolishing Causeway Bay three weeks on
