Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui on Sunday urged employers to familiarise themselves with the newly refined heat stress at work warning system.

Hui said many employers may not be familiar with the new framework and stressed they have a legal responsibility to manage heat-related risks for their workers in extreme temperatures.

"The system is not a law in itself, but even if the guidelines are not issued, all employers are responsible for the burden of occupational health and safety encountered by workers. The risks includes heat exhaustion and heatstroke," he said on a TVB programme.

"If an employer does not take responsibility of risk management in this regard, it is actually illegal under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance."

His remarks came as authorities added two new triggers to the system at the end of August.

Hui said construction sites and other employers should not interpret heat warnings as automatic orders to halt all work.

Instead, Hui added, they should conduct advance risk assessments, introduce cooling stations, fans, ventilation, shade and cooling clothing, and reschedule heavy labour away from the hottest hours.

In response to whether the system should adopt the international Wet-bulb Globe Temperature standard, Hui said it would not fully address Hong Kong’s humid, poorly ventilated working environments, including indoor workplaces without air conditioning.

He added the government would evaluate data from the summer before making any further adjustments to the system ahead of the next hot season.




Edited by Tony Sabine