Hong Kong lowers heat stress warning system thresholds after criticism
Hong Kong’s Heat Stress at Work warning system will be automatically upgraded when temperatures reach 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) across multiple districts, after labour authorities lowered its activation thresholds following criticism. Two weeks after the system — which advises outdoor workers to take measures to prevent heatstroke — drew criticism for failing to issue higher-level alerts…
Hong Kong's Heat Stress at Work warning system will automatically be upgraded to higher levels when temperatures reach 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) in multiple districts following criticism. The Labour Department announced changes to the three-tier system, which has only issued the lowest "Amber" warning in the past three years despite temperatures exceeding 39 degrees Celsius.
The new conditions involve raising the warning level by one stage if temperatures in various parts of Hong Kong reach 35 degrees Celsius or higher, and lowering the thresholds when the Hong Kong Observatory issues an "Extremely Hot Weather" Special Alert. Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui Chark-shum expects the updated system to provide timely warnings to workers facing heat stress due to high humidity and poor air circulation, as well as trigger earlier and more severe alerts for unusually high temperatures, particularly for outdoor workers.
The Labour Department will continue to monitor the system's performance and make necessary improvements.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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