Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorm
As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.
A spokesman for the LD said today (July 14) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (like electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.
Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by the rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:
(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;
(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;
(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;
(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and
(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.
In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.
The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).
Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.
Source: AI-generated images
Speech by SITI at NovaX Global Investmatch Carnival 2024
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the NovaX Global Investmatch Carnival 2024 today (August 28):
Clarence (Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr Clarence Ling), Raymond (Member of the All-China Youth Federation Mr Raymond Zhao), Steve (Executive Chairman of the Hong Kong Young Scientist Association and Member of the All-China Youth Federation, Mr Steve Gao), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is my great pleasure to attend the NovaX Global Investmatch Carnival 2024. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Innovating Hong Kong for bringing together top-tier innovative companies, investment institutions, and industry experts from around the world to Hong Kong to explore technological frontiers and investment opportunities and shape the future of innovation.
Start-ups are the heartbeat of innovation. As I have mentioned in many occasions, funding is an essential element to support the growth and sustainable development of start-ups, as well as to enhance the global innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem. I am delighted to see that today's event provides a platform for start-ups to connect with investors, and innovation to meet with opportunity. This echoes our I&T development strategy to diversify venture financing channels and support the development of start-ups and industries.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to providing comprehensive support to start-ups at different stages of their development. Apart from the various entrepreneurship schemes and incubation programmes provided by the two I&T flagships in Hong Kong, namely the Hong Kong Science Park and the Hong Kong Cyberport, there are multiple fundraising channels available for start-ups from other government and private investment funds. We encourage the enrichment of venture financing channels and welcome more participation from the venture capitalists and business sector to build a more vibrant I&T ecosystem.
Under the principle of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong has the distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support from the motherland, and at the same time being closely connected to the world. By leveraging our role as a "super-connector" and a "super value-adder", Hong Kong can pool together innovation resources all around the world to promote I&T development and investment, also serve as the bridge linking the Mainland and the rest of the world, as well as the springboard for overseas enterprises to access the huge Mainland market and for Mainland enterprises to go global. This year, in the Global Innovation Index, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster continued to rank second in the world for the fifth consecutive year. We welcome start-ups, talent and investors to come to Hong Kong to explore the amazing I&T landscape with open arms.
Ladies and gentlemen, to foster a vibrant I&T ecosystem, we need to develop a sustainable I&T ecological chain through close collaboration across various sectors. Promoting collaborative efforts among the government, academia, research institutions, and the investment sector is of paramount importance. Let us join hands to embark on an I&T journey across borders.
In closing, may I extend my best wishes for the success of the NovaX Global Investmatch Carnival and a fruitful experience to all attendees present here today. Thank you very much.
Speech by SITI at NovaX Global Investmatch Carnival 2024 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
