Trade Unions Push for Mandatory Heat Protection Gear as Hong Kong Records Historic High Temperatures
Bastillepost · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago3 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong's construction industry unions are calling for stronger legal protections for workers amid soaring temperatures, with reports of workers experiencing heat stroke and even death on job sites. The Construction Industry General Union's Chairman Zhou Sijie revealed on a radio programme that heat stroke incidents among construction workers have become increasingly common, with some sites reporting five out of seven workers suffering from heat exhaustion. The Labour Department and Hong Kong Observatory are jointly reviewing the work heat warning system, with a revised framework expected before month-end.
Key Points
- Construction Industry General Union Chairman Zhou Sijie said workers have reported situations where 5 out of 7 colleagues suffered heat stroke simultaneously
- A worker at a Discovery Bay construction site recently measured temperatures reaching 54 degrees Celsius with a thermometer
- Workers currently must purchase fan-cooled shirts themselves, costing between 400 to over 1,000 Hong Kong dollars, with each shirt lasting approximately six months
- Legislative Council Human Resources Committee Vice Chairman Lam Chun-sheng noted heat stroke is not among the 48 statutory occupational diseases covered under the Employee's Compensation Ordinance
- Former Hong Kong Observatory Director Lam Chiu-ying has proposed adopting the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index and referencing mainland standards that mandate full work suspension at 40 degrees Celsius
- The Labour Department and Hong Kong Observatory aim to announce work heat warning system improvements by the end of this month
- Lam Chun-sheng has suggested including heat protection clauses in government contract specifications, with compensation provisions for weather-related delays
- The Northern Metropolis development zone, currently undergoing extensive construction, faces particularly high temperatures, underscoring the urgent need for improved protections
Why It Matters
These developments could reshape occupational safety standards in Hong Kong's construction sector, which has seen increasing heat-related casualties. With the government reviewing both equipment requirements and compensation coverage, thousands of outdoor and indoor workers may gain stronger legal protections against heat hazards. The outcome will set a precedent for how Hong Kong balances economic development with worker safety in the face of climate change.
These developments could reshape occupational safety standards in Hong Kong's construction sector, which has seen increasing heat-related casualties. With the government reviewing both equipment requirements and compensation coverage, thousands of outdoor and indoor workers may gain stronger legal protections against heat hazards. The outcome will set a precedent for how Hong Kong balances economic development with worker safety in the face of climate change.