LD advises companies and workers to take heat stroke preventive procedures in times of Heat Stress at Work Warning
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As the Heat Stress at Work Warning is now in impact, the Labour Department (LD) advises companies and staff members to take suitable steps throughout the reliable duration of the alerting to avoid heat stroke when operating in heat or hot environments.
Workers who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor environments deal with high levels of heat tension and are at a reasonably greater threat of heat stroke. Companies need to evaluate the threat aspects of heat tension for staff members at work and, based upon the recognized threat elements, take needed preventive and control steps, consisting of rescheduling work durations, establishing shading covers, supplying ventilation and heat dissipation devices, and advising staff members to renew water and rest in a prompt way.
The Heat Stress at Work Warning is created by the LD based upon the Hong Kong Heat Index. There are 3 levels of the caution: Amber, Red and Black, which assist companies and staff members much better comprehend the level of heat tension while working outdoors or inside without air-conditioning systems.
A representative for the LD stated that when the department concerns the Heat Stress at Work Warning, companies should describe the requirements and suggestions supplied in the “Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work” to carry out threat evaluations, according to the work and other appropriate heat tension danger elements, for workers who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor work environments. Suitable rest breaks must be set up every hour, as far as fairly practicable, based upon different levels of the Heat Stress at Work Warning, to decrease workers’ threat of heat stroke.
Staff members should likewise follow guidelines to rest on time. Whenever there are any signs of heat-related health problems, such as headache, lightheadedness, thirst, and queasiness, they need to rest in a cool and dubious location, beverage water, and notify employers/supervisors to take proper action right away.
The LD provided the “Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work”detailing the different threat elements that need to be thought about when carrying out heat tension threat evaluations and suggesting matching control steps for recognized threat elements for companies’ and workers’ recommendation. For the Heat Stress at Work Warning and associated standards, please describe the department’s thematic website: www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/prevention_of_heat_stroke_at_work.htm.