Hong Kong – LD reminds employers and employees to take heat stroke preventive measures in times of Heat Stress at Work Warning
LD reminds employers and employees to take heat stroke preventive measures in times of Heat Stress at Work Warning
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As the Heat Stress at Work Warning is now in effect, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and employees to take appropriate measures during the effective period of the warning to prevent heat stroke when working in hot weather or hot environments.
Employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor environments face high levels of heat stress and are at a relatively higher risk of heat stroke. Employers should assess the risk factors of heat stress for employees at work and, based on the identified risk factors, take necessary preventive and control measures, including rescheduling work periods, setting up shading covers, providing ventilation and heat dissipation equipment, and reminding employees to replenish water and rest in a timely manner.
The Heat Stress at Work Warning is formulated by the LD based on the Hong Kong Heat Index. There are three levels of the warning: Amber, Red and Black, which help employers and employees better understand the level of heat stress while working outdoors or indoors without air-conditioning systems.
A spokesman for the LD said that when the department issues the Heat Stress at Work Warning, employers must refer to the criteria and recommendations provided in the “Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work” to conduct risk assessments, according to the workloads and other relevant heat stress risk factors, for employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor workplaces. Appropriate rest breaks should be arranged every hour, as far as reasonably practicable, based on various levels of the Heat Stress at Work Warning, to reduce employees’ risk of heat stroke.
Employees must also follow instructions to rest on time. Whenever there are any symptoms of heat-related illnesses, such as headache, dizziness, thirst, and nausea, they should rest in a cool and shady place, drink water, and inform employers/supervisors to take appropriate action immediately.
The LD issued the “Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work”, detailing the various risk factors that should be considered when conducting heat stress risk assessments and recommending corresponding control measures for identified risk factors for employers’ and employees’ reference. For the Heat Stress at Work Warning and related guidelines, please refer to the department’s thematic webpage: www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/prevention_of_heat_stroke_at_work.htm.
LD reminds employers and employees to take heat stroke preventive measures in times of Heat Stress at Work Warning
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Employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor environments face high levels of heat stress and are at a relatively higher risk of heat stroke. Employers should assess the risk factors of heat stress for employees at work and, based on the identified risk factors, take necessary preventive and control measures, including rescheduling work periods, setting up shading covers, providing ventilation and heat dissipation equipment, and reminding employees to replenish water and rest in a timely manner.
Government reminds retail trade and public on implementation of enhanced Plastic Shopping Bag Charging Scheme on December 31
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(1) increasing the charging level per PSB from the current level of at least 50 cents to at least $1;
(2) removing the present exemption for PSBs carrying frozen/chilled foodstuff items; and
(3) tightening the exemption relating to foodstuff items such that free PSBs can only be provided when purchasing foodstuff items without packaging or not wholly contained in any packaging, or food and beverage takeaway items in non-airtight packaging, subject to the basic principle of “one free PSB per single transaction”. (If the first free PSB cannot hold all of the foodstuff items, using one PSB may break the PSB, or placing all of the foodstuff items into one free PSB will compromise their quality, then one or more additional free PSB(s) could be provided.)
Examples of foodstuff items that are subject to or exempted from PSB charge after the Enhanced Scheme is implemented are at Annex. For avoidance of doubt, plastic bags provided with service tendered (for example, plastic bags commonly used in clinics for patients to take away medicine prescribed by doctors after consultation) will not be charged as in the current arrangement as no retail sale of goods is involved, and they are not affected by the enhancement measures.
To familiarise the retail trade and the public with the upcoming Enhanced Scheme, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has rolled out a series of publicity activities, including new TV and radio Announcements in the Public Interest, poster, leaflet, advertisements on public transport, online advertisements, etc. and is updating the PSB Charging Scheme thematic website as well as the practical guidelines for reference by the trade and the public. If needed, please email to psb@epd.gov.hk to request for publicity materials.
In the first month after the commencement of the Enhanced Scheme, the EPD will first give verbal warnings to retailers who contravene the enhancement measures. Enforcement action will follow should the retailers concerned fail to rectify the non-compliance. Starting from January 31, 2023, no prior warnings will be given by the EPD and enforcement action will be taken should any contraventions be found.
A government spokesperson appealed to the retail trade to try not to let customers take PSBs by themselves and not to actively provide PSBs that are subject to a charge. The public should also cultivate the habit of bringing their own shopping bags to reduce waste at source.
Government reminds public not to use Medical Exemption Certificates obtained through improper means
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SB reminds public to be vigilant against employment fraud
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Hong Kong – LD reminds employers and employees to take heat stroke preventive measures in times of Heat Stress at Work Warning
As the Heat Stress at Work Warning is now in effect, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and employees to take appropriate measures during the effective period of the warning to prevent heat stroke when working in hot weather or hot environments.
The Heat Stress at Work Warning is formulated by the LD based on the Hong Kong Heat Index. There are three levels of the warning: Amber, Red and Black, which help employers and employees better understand the level of heat stress while working outdoors or indoors without air-conditioning systems.
A spokesman for the LD said that when the department issues the Heat Stress at Work Warning, employers must refer to the criteria and recommendations provided in the “Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work” to conduct risk assessments, according to the workloads and other relevant heat stress risk factors, for employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor workplaces. Appropriate rest breaks should be arranged every hour, as far as reasonably practicable, based on various levels of the Heat Stress at Work Warning, to reduce employees’ risk of heat stroke.
Employees must also follow instructions to rest on time. Whenever there are any symptoms of heat-related illnesses, such as headache, dizziness, thirst, and nausea, they should rest in a cool and shady place, drink water, and inform employers/supervisors to take appropriate action immediately.
The LD issued the “Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work”, detailing the various risk factors that should be considered when conducting heat stress risk assessments and recommending corresponding control measures for identified risk factors for employers’ and employees’ reference. For the Heat Stress at Work Warning and related guidelines, please refer to the department’s thematic webpage: www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/prevention_of_heat_stroke_at_work.htm.
Hong Kong – Government reminds retail trade and public on implementation of enhanced Plastic Shopping Bag Charging Scheme on December 31
The Government today (December 27) reminded the retail trade and the public that the enhanced Plastic Shopping Bag (PSB) Charging Scheme (the Enhanced Scheme) would be implemented on December 31. The enhancement measures include:Hong Kong – Government reminds public not to use Medical Exemption Certificates obtained through improper means
The Government today (September 6) appealed to members of the public again for getting themselves self-protection through administration of COVID-19 vaccines as soon as practicable. A Government spokesman said that the current epidemic situation in Hong Kong is dire and the new daily caseload has reached five-digit figures. Members of the public are exposing themselves to risks of infection and even severe illness and death if they are not deemed unsuitable for vaccination because of health reasons and have yet to get vaccinated. Furthermore, it is an offence to use a Medical Exemption Certificate obtained through improper means. The defendant is liable to imprisonment upon conviction. Members of the public are urged not to defy the law.
The spokesman pointed out that, based on scientific evidence and real-world experience gained from hundreds of millions of vaccinated people overseas and locally, it is proven that most people are suitable for receiving the CoronaVac and Comirnaty vaccines currently provided in Hong Kong. Both vaccines are able to reduce the risks of severe illness and death arising from COVID-19 infection in a safe and efficacious manner.
Doctors are allowed to issue Medical Exemption Certificates under the arrangement of the “Vaccine Pass” simply to cater for an extremely small number of people who are unsuitable for receiving the vaccine due to health reasons. The fact is that these individuals are actually being exposed to a higher risk for not having been vaccinated.
The Department of Health (DH) has issued to doctors detailed guidelines listing the medical reasons for being not suitable for vaccination. Doctors should only issue the Exemption Certificate after verifying that the person concerned is not suitable to receive the two aforementioned vaccines. When considering the issuance of Exemption Certificates, doctors are required to refer to the guidelines issued by the DH and follow the Code of Professional Conduct for the Guidance of Registered Medical Practitioners when making clinical judgements to decide whether a patient’s condition satisfies the listed medical reasons for not being suitable for vaccination.
The Government reiterated that boosting the vaccination rate is of paramount importance for strengthening the intactness of the immunity barrier, as well as effectively safeguarding the health of citizens, in particular the elderly, the young and the chronically ill. It is also vital to the resumption of economic activities and daily life for the Hong Kong community and citizens. Using fraudulent Medical Exemption Certificates in an attempt to enter premises subject to “Vaccine Pass” including catering premises and scheduled premises is an extremely irresponsible act.
The Government will continue to closely monitor the issuance of Medical Exemption Certificates by doctors. If any irregularities, contravention of the Code of Professional Conduct for the Guidance of Registered Medical Practitioners or criminal acts are noticed, the Government will take strict enforcement actions and pass relevant information such as suspected cases of fraudulent Medical Exemption Certificates to the Medical Council of Hong Kong or enforcement departments for follow-up as appropriate.
The spokesman cautioned that the making or issuance of a false instrument is a criminal offence. Meanwhile, using a false instrument knowingly may contravene the Crimes Ordinance. The maximum penalty for both offences upon conviction is imprisonment for 14 years. Members of the public are urged not to defy the law and not to use Medical Exemption Certificates obtained through improper means.
Hong Kong – SB reminds public to be vigilant against employment fraud
Regarding recent incidents in which Hong Kong people were suspected to have been lured to such Southeast Asian countries as Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and detained to engage in illegal work, the Security Bureau (SB) said on August 17 that it attaches great importance to the incidents and reminds members of the public to be vigilant against employment fraud. Since January this year, the Immigration Department and the Police have received 17 and 12 requests for assistance respectively.
After receiving the requests for assistance, the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit (AHU) of the Immigration Department immediately assisted the people concerned to report the cases to the local police upon their requests. The AHU learned that 12 of the Hong Kong people had left the relevant places safely.
The AHU will actively follow up the cases of requests for assistance in which the people concerned have yet to leave the places and will continue to keep close contact with their family members, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the local Chinese Embassy/Consulate General to follow up the cases.
Following receipt of the relevant reports, the Police would maintain close contact with the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) outside Hong Kong and reach the LEAs through the INTERPOL platform to exchange intelligence and assist investigations.
The SB appeals to people not to trust online recruitment advertisements or comments lightly and guard against claims of ways to earn quick money and jobs offering extraordinarily high remuneration with no specific requirements for academic qualification or working experience.
Hong Kong residents travelling outside Hong Kong who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the AHU of the Immigration Department at (852) 1868, call the 1868 hotline by network data call via the Immigration Department Mobile Application or submit the Online Assistance Request Form.
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