'Fan jackets should be compulsory for outdoor workers'
A construction industry representative said on Saturday the cordless fan jacket is one of the most effective ways of reducing heat stress for outdoor workers and should be made compulsory to protect them against extreme heat. The call comes as Hong Kong swelters through an unusually hot summer – with temperatures hitting a record 36.9 degrees Celsius on August 9th, the highest since records began…
A Hong Kong construction union head has argued that cordless fan jackets should become mandatory for outdoor workers to combat the extreme heat. The fans, installed near the lower back, blow air inside the jacket to aid workers in hot and humid conditions. Current workers must purchase the jackets at their own expense, which is impractical.
The union's president Chau Sze-kit and Legislative Council deputy chairman Lam Chun-sing suggested that laws could be amended to make the jackets part of personal protective equipment, similar to safety helmets. However, heatstroke is not currently covered as an occupational disease, making it difficult for workers to claim compensation even if they can prove the link.
The Labour Department and Observatory are currently working on updates to the Heat Stress at Work Warning system, with the changes expected by the end of the month.
Written by urgent.news from RTHK English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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