Labour Department to hold courses and public talks on prevention of heat stroke at work and occupational health

Labour department offers free courses and health talks on occupational health and heat stroke prevention in july - enrol now!

The Labour Department (LD) organises courses and public health talks on prevention of heat stroke and occupational health regularly to raise employers' and employees' awareness of occupational health.

Details of eight courses and health talks on the prevention of heat stroke at work in July are as follows:

(1)

Dates and Time: July 4, 15 and 22 (Half-day (am));

July 10 and 26 (Half-day (pm))

Venue: Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre of the LD, 13/F, KOLOUR·Tsuen Wan I, 68 Chung On Street, Tsuen Wan, New Territories

Enrolment method: Download the application form (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/osh/form.htm)

Enquiry hotline: 2940 7057

(2)

Dates and Time: July 11 and 19 (Half-day (am))

Venue: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Centre of the LD, G/F, Kwun Tong Community Health Centre Building, 60 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon

Enrolment method: Online registration of courses in OSH Centre (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)

Enquiry hotline: 2361 8240

(3)

Date and Time: July 29 (3.30pm to 5pm)

Venue: Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Science Museum, 2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon

Enrolment method: Online registration of public talks on occupational health (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)

Enquiry hotline: 2852 4040

In addition, the LD will hold the following occupational health public talks in July:

(1)

Topic: Residential Care Home Workers - Infection Control in the Workplace

Content: The talk, designed for residential care home workers, will introduce how pathogenic micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses may enter into the human body and affect one's health, and explain the concept of infection control in residential care homes.

Date and Time: July 9 (3.30pm to 4.45pm)

Venue: Lecture Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Enrolment method: Online registration (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)

Enquiry hotline: 2852 4040

(2)

Topic: Occupational Stress

Content: The talk will introduce the symptoms and health impacts of occupational stress as well as some stress-coping strategies.

Date and Time: July 15 (3.30pm to 5pm)

Venue: Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Science Museum, 2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon

Enrolment method: Online registration (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)

Enquiry hotline: 2852 4040

(3)

Topic: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) for Confined Space Workers

Content: The talk will explain the related OSH hazards as well as their preventive measures to enhance workers' OSH awareness in confined spaces.

Date and Time: July 22 (6.30pm to 8pm)

Venue: Lecture Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Enrolment method: Online registration (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)

Enquiry hotline: 2852 4040

All courses and public talks will be given by the LD's occupational hygienist, occupational safety officer or occupational health nurse in Cantonese. Admission is free.

The LD also provides a free-of-charge outreach health education service. For details, please visit the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/osh/content7.htm) or call 2852 4062.

Source: AI-generated images

Labour department issues heat stress warning: employers and employees urged to take preventive measures to avoid heat stroke in hot weather or environments

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.

Source: AI-generated images