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As it has been hot in the past few days, the Labour Department particularly reminds site contractors/employers to strengthen their measures to eliminate or mitigate the risk of heat stroke for workers at work. During this summer, the Labour Department will continue to enhance inspections at construction sites and other workplaces with higher risk of heat stroke to ensure that proper measures to prevent heat stroke are in place.
In accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance (Cap. 509) and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance (Cap. 59), employers have a duty to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the safety and health of their employees at work. This includes taking appropriate measures to eliminate or mitigate the risk of heat stroke for workers.
The Labour Department has issued letters to site contractors/employers, urging them to adopt the following preventive measures against heat stroke:
(1) Supply cool drinking water at easily accessible points;
(2) Erect shelters to shield direct sunlight;
(3) Provide ventilation facilities (e.g. blowers);
(4) Provide shower facilities and/or cooling devices (e.g. cooling fans with atomised water spray); and
(5) Arrange regular rest breaks or job rotation to reduce exposure to the hot weather.
The Labour Department will take immediate enforcement action without further warning if it finds that drinking water is not provided or is not provided in a convenient manner at worksites during inspections.
To assist contractors/employers in taking precautions against heat stroke at work, the Labour Department has also published a guide on the prevention of heat stroke at work in a general hot environment and a practical checklist to assess the risk of heat stress at construction sites. These publications can be obtained from the offices of the Occupational Health Service of the Labour Department, or downloaded from its webpage at www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_9.htm.
Ends/Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:06
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