Heat Stress Warning system to be reviewed
The Labour Department on Sunday said it will review its Heat Stress at Work Warning system to see if improvements are needed. Questions had been raised after the lowest-level amber warning was issued on Sunday as the city sweltered through its hottest day on record – with temperatures at the Hong Kong Observatory reaching 36.9 degrees, while the mercury hit 39.8C in Sheung Shui. A Labour…
The Labour Department announced it will review its Heat Stress at Work Warning system following recent criticism. On Hong Kong's hottest day on record, with temperatures peaking at 39.8C in Sheung Shui, the lowest-level amber warning was issued. However, the spokesman noted that temperature alone is not the sole risk factor for heat stress, as humidity and wind conditions also play a role.
The department will monitor the hot weather and consider optimizing the warning system. Employers in Hong Kong are liable for work-related injuries or fatalities, including those caused by hot weather, under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance. Yet, whether a specific incident counts as a work injury depends on the facts and circumstances, and unresolved disputes may be taken to court.
The observatory forecasts temperatures to remain above 37 degrees in some areas on Monday and Tuesday due to the subsiding air from Tropical Cyclone Dolphin.
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