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Hong Kong is right into the rainy and typhoon season, contractors and site management staff should watch out for the weather conditions and adopt appropriate contingency measures in times of inclement weather to ensure the occupational safety and health of workers.

As the weather is unstable lately, the Labour Department today (June 12) reminded employers again that to ensure that the working environment is safe. They should also provide personal protective equipment such as safety helmets, waterproof safety boots and raincoats for workers on site.

"When the weather turns bad, engineering staff on sites should ensure that all scaffoldings and hoardings are secured and taut, and all canvas removed. Workers responsible for lifting or transport appliances should not operate cranes such as tower cranes in strong wind, but should secure the jibs in a safe position according to the instructions of their supervisors."

"Those responsible for external wall maintenance and cleaning should stop their work, lower suspended working platforms to the ground and secure them," he said.

Where there are torrential rain and thunderstorm, it is unsafe to work outdoor or in an open area. Employers should ask their employees to suspend their work and take temporary shelter in a safe place. Work should only be resumed when the weather conditions permit.

"When the weather resumes normal, it is of paramount importance for contractors to check site conditions thoroughly and carry out necessary repairs or rectifications to ensure site safety before work resumes ," he added.

Hazards commonly found on sites after inclement weather include:

* flooding in excavations;

* damaged scaffoldings or working platforms on scaffoldings;

* caving in of the sides of excavations and damage to the shoring;

* loosening of anchoraging arrangement of lifting appliances;

* leakage of electric current from electrical installations; and

* missing of safety fencing.

The general duties provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance require employers to provide a safe plant and a safe system of work for employees. And employees should co-operate by using safety equipment provided by their employers.

The Labour Department will be writing to members of the Hong Kong Construction Association to remind them of the legislative requirements.

To provide practical guidelines of work arrangements, the Labour Department has published a "Code of Practice in times of Typhoons and Rainstorms". The code can be obtained from the department's Relations Division offices or downloaded from the department's website(http://www.lrpu.labour.gov.hk/publicat/rainstorm/index-e.htm).

For enquiries on site safety, please call the Safety and Health Advisory Telephone Enquiry Service at 2559 2297.

End/Thursday, June 12, 2003

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