Revised Code of Practice for Safety and Health at Work in Confined Spaces to take effect tomorrow
The revised Code of Practice for Safety and Health at Work in Confined Spaces (CoP) will officially take effect tomorrow (November 30). The CoP was gazetted on May 31 this year, and a grace period of six months was provided to allow sufficient time for the industry to understand and prepare for the revised requirements.
During the grace period, the Labour Department (LD) has strengthened its publicity and promotions, as well as education and training, through various channels such as the LD's website, the "OSH 2.0" mobile application, and a series of talks and seminars organised with relevant organisations to facilitate the industry's better understanding of the CoP's content.
The major revisions of the CoP include the enhancement of requirements for proprietors' or contractors' supervision on confined space work; highlighting the factors for assessing whether a particular job constitutes underground pipework; adding a detailed template on the risk assessment form and listing out the setting of an air-monitoring alarm; and an update on the Permit-to-work Certificate template. New requirements have also been added to the revised CoP, such as requiring proprietors or contractors to adopt technology to record videos at the entrance and exit of the confined space throughout the entire work period to enhance monitoring relevant personnel's compliance with the safety precautions.
Meanwhile, the LD has refined the mandatory safety training courses for confined space operations to enhance the industry's understanding of common risks and its ability to mitigate these risks, which includes updating the course content, extending the course duration and shortening the validity period of the relevant safety certificates so that industry personnel will refresh their safety knowledge more frequently and stay updated on new legislative developments. The revised courses will be launched tomorrow.
A spokesman for the LD said, "After the commencement of the revised CoP, the LD will continue to conduct surprise inspections at workplaces with confined spaces from time to time to review the relevant work processes and safety precautions implemented to ensure the safety and health of workers."
The spokesman added, "The CoP has a special legal status. In criminal proceedings, if a relevant person fails to observe any provisions of this CoP, that failure may be taken by the court as a relevant factor in determining whether or not a person has breached the relevant occupational safety and health legislation."
For more information on working in confined spaces, or to download the revised CoP, please visit the LD's new thematic website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/osh_confinedspace.htm). Enquiries about the CoP can be made at 2559 2297.
Secretary for Health and Vice Minister of GACC witness signing of MOU between Hong Kong and Shenzhen on entry-exit health inspection and quarantine
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, met Vice Minister of General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) Mr Wang Lingjun today (November 29). They jointly witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Implementation on the Co-operation Arrangement for Entry-exit Health Inspection and Quarantine between the GACC and the Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government by the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, and Deputy Director General in the Shenzhen Customs District Mr Chen Jinhua.
Professor Lo said, "I would like to express my gratitude to the GACC for its staunch support to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the entry-exit health inspection and quarantine. Since the signing of the Co-operation Arrangement for Entry-exit Health Inspection and Quarantine between the GACC and the Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (Co-operation Arrangement) between the Health Bureau (HHB) and the GACC in November last year, the two sides have strengthened the joint efforts in disease prevention and control as well as communication in terms of entry-exit health inspection and quarantine, and the collaboration mechanisms have also been operating smoothly. To better implement the Co-operation Arrangement, the Department of Health (DH) and the Shenzhen Customs District signed the MOU today to further deepen the co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, safeguard the wellbeing and safety of residents and travellers of the two places, and facilitate customs clearance between Shenzhen and Hong Kong."
At the meeting, Professor Lo and Mr Wang exchanged views on issues of mutual concern, including facilitation measures for cross-boundary flow of special articles, such as human tissues, biological products, and blood and blood-related products, for scientific research purposes as stated in the "Customs' Certain Measures on Supporting Comprehensive Deepening Reform and Opening Up of Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone" recently published by the GACC.
Professor Lo emphasised, "Promoting convenient and highly efficient cross-boundary flow of innovation elements is crucial for supporting the establishment of the GBA Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform by the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone and the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trials Center in the Shenzhen Park together to extend the research and development network and expedite clinical trials. The HHB will work closely with the GACC and Shenzhen Customs District to take forward timely implementation of relevant cross-boundary facilitation policies."
Today's meeting was another occasion where Professor Lo met with leaders of the GACC after his last visit to the GACC in Beijing in September. The Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the DH, Dr Edwin Tsui, and the Director (Quality and Safety) of the Hospital Authority, Dr Michael Wong, also attended the meeting today.
