Employers urged to protect staff amid rainstorm warning

Safety measures are urged amid dangers on electrical work

BY Dexter Tilo 13 May 2022

Employers and contractors across Hong Kong are being urged to ensure the protection of their employees amid the rainstorm warning issued by the Hong Kong Observatory.

According to a spokesman from the Labour Department, employers should refer to the "Code of Practice in times of Typhoons and Rainstorms" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather."

The LD added that employers should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

Such measures include:

Ensuring that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out
Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter
Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed
Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees
If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

Guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety are also available for free for employers at divisional offices of the LD.

Employees, on the other hand, should co-operate with their employers to ensure that they are following safety instructions and using safety equipment provided.

The Labour Department reported a total of 30,448 occupational injuries in 2021, while it recorded 8,865 industrial accidents.