LD to introduce Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work and Heat Stress at Work Warning (with photos)
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According to the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, employers are required to provide or maintain a system of work that is, so far as reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health. This includes implementing appropriate measures against heat stress at the workplace to prevent employees from getting heat stroke at work.
To assist employers in fulfilling their responsibilities, the LD formulated the Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work, detailing the risk factors that should be considered when conducting heat stress risk assessments, and the recommended control measures for addressing various risk factors.
A spokesman for the LD said, "Employees working under hot weather or in hot environments may have an increased risk of heat stroke. Employers should assess in advance the risk factors for heat stress in employees at work, and formulate preventive and control measures for the different risk factors, including the scheduling of appropriate work-rest periods, so as to reduce the risk of heat stroke posed to employees in hot environments."
To enhance employers and employees' understanding of the level of heat stress in outdoor or indoor working environments without air-conditioning under hot weather, the LD will introduce three levels of Heat Stress at Work Warning based on the Hong Kong Heat Index, which include:
- Amber Heat Stress at Work Warning, indicating high heat stress in certain working environments;
- Red Heat Stress at Work Warning, indicating very high heat stress in certain working environments; and
- Black Heat Stress at Work Warning, indicating extremely high heat stress in certain working environments.
Members of the public can receive notifications of Heat Stress at Work Warning via the "GovHK Notifications" or "MyObservatory" mobile applications. The warning message will be disseminated also through government press releases, the Hong Kong Observatory's webpage and the mass media.
The spokesman added, "Since the nature and requirements of different industries and job positions vary, employers and employees should make reference to the guidance notes in advance and adopt a risk-based and consultative approach to devise reasonable and mutually acceptable work-rest schedules under different levels of the Heat Stress at Work Warning."
The spokesman reminded that since weather changes are unavoidable natural phenomena, employers should not unreasonably withhold wages, attendance awards or allowances for employees who have extra rest time given under the Heat Stress at Work Warning. Employers should also observe their statutory responsibilities and requirements under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, the Employment Ordinance, the Employees' Compensation Ordinance and the Minimum Wage Ordinance.
For details of the Heat Stress at Work Warning and the relevant guidance notes, please refer to the LD's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/prevention_of_heat_stroke_at_work.htm) or the Occupational Safety and Health Council's dedicated webpage (www.noheatstress.hk). For enquiries, please call the LD's hotline at 2559 2297 or 2852 4041.
Ends/Monday, May 8, 2023
Issued at HKT 13:36
Issued at HKT 13:36
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