Heat Stress Warning system to be reviewed

The Labour Department announced on Sunday that it will review its Heat Stress at Work Warning system to determine if any improvements are necessary. The decision comes after the city experienced its hottest day on record, with temperatures soaring to 36.9 degrees at the Hong Kong Observatory and reaching a scorching 39.8C in Sheung Shui.

Although the temperature was a significant risk factor for heat stress, the spokesman stated that humidity levels were low and wind conditions were favorable, which justified the issuance of an amber warning. However, the department acknowledged that it will closely monitor the ongoing hot weather and assess whether further optimization of the warning system is warranted.

Under Hong Kong's Employees' Compensation Ordinance, employers are obligated to provide compensation for work-related injuries or fatalities, including those caused by hot weather. Nevertheless, the determination of whether a specific incident qualifies as a work injury depends on the unique circumstances of each case, and unresolved disputes will be resolved in court.

The observatory forecasted that temperatures would persist above 37 degrees in certain areas throughout Monday and Tuesday, as the subsiding air from Tropical Cyclone Dolphin continued to bring extreme heat to the region.