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Construction contractors, proprietors of container handling yards and establishments with outdoor work should watch out for weather conditions and adopt contingency measures to ensure the occupational safety and health of their workers.
"When the weather becomes unsettled, engineering staff on construction sites should ensure that all scaffoldings and hoardings are secured and taut, and all canvas removed. Workers should not operate lifting appliances such as tower cranes in strong winds, but allow the jibs to stay in a safe position according to the instructions of their supervisors. Those responsible for external wall maintenance and cleaning should stop their work, lower the suspended working platforms to the ground and secure them," the spokesman of Labour Department said.
"Proprietors of container handling yards should take special precautions such as limiting the stacking height of containers, using stacking fittings or lashings to stabilise the containers (in particular the exposed rows), suspending temporarily the lifting of containers, and, where necessary, prohibiting persons from entering or remaining in the container stacking area.
"Where there is torrential rain and thunderstorms, it is unsafe to work outdoors or in an open area. Contractors and proprietors should instruct their workers to suspend their work and provide a safe place for them to take temporary shelter. Work should only be resumed when the weather conditions permit.
"When the weather is clear, contractors and proprietors should check the working conditions thoroughly and carry out the necessary repairs or rectifications to ensure that it is safe before work resumes," he added.
The possible hazards encountered on construction sites and container handling yards after bad weather include:
* Flooding in excavations;
* Damaged scaffoldings or working platforms on scaffoldings;
* Caving in of the sides of excavations and damage to the shoring;
* Unstable slopes;
* Loosening of anchoring arrangement of lifting appliances;
* Leakage of electric current from electrical installations; and
* Collapse of unstable containers.
To provide practical guidelines on work arrangements in times of bad weather, the Labour Department has published the leaflet "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" and the booklet "Code of Practice in times of Typhoons and Rainstorms". These publications can be obtained free from divisional offices of the department or downloaded from the department's website at www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm.
For enquiries on occupational safety, please call the Safety and Health Advisory Telephone Enquiry Service on 2559 2297.
Ends/Thursday, April 17, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:26
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