The Labour Department said Thursday that it will start using drones next month to assist in inspections of inaccessible workplaces and law enforcement operations.

The department said in a statement that small unmanned aircraft (SUA) will assist occupational safety officers (OSOs) in surveillance, collecting evidence and law enforcement.

Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui Chark-shum and Deputy Commissioner (Occupational Safety and Health) Vincent Fung Hao-yin earlier attended a drill to review the drones’ effectiveness in operations.

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"OSOs can utilize SUA to conduct aerial remote site surveillance in the future,” Hui said. “Upon detecting unsafe work practices, OSOs will be able to take photos and videos immediately for evidence collection before deploying staff to enter the sites for law enforcement.”

The drones could also facilitate the inspection of remote or inaccessible workplaces, significantly enhancing inspection efficiency, he added.  

The Labour Department drones will be equipped with super zoom and high-resolution cameras capable of shooting remote aerial photography and videography, assisting OSOs in collecting evidence during inspections and accident investigations.

The department will conduct a special inspection exercise using the drones next month, focusing on construction sites with working-at-height activities to curb unsafe work practices.

If any violation of the occupational safety and health legislation is detected, the department said it will take stringent enforcement actions immediately, including issuing suspension notices and initiating prosecutions without prior warning.

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The department added that it will remain updated on the latest application of technological products, including AI systems, to assist in law enforcement and ensure workplace safety.

Contact the writer at tongsijiu@chinadailyhk.com