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Fiona Sun

Hong Kong labour unionists have called for a requirement that employers to provide outdoor workers with heatstroke-prevention equipment during extreme temperatures.
They also said on Saturday that heatstroke should be added to the list of statutory occupational diseases, making it easier for workers to claim compensation for work-related cases.
The calls for better protection for workers in extreme heat came after temperatures in the city hit record highs earlier this month.
Chau Sze-kit, chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, said many workers urgently needed fan-cooled jackets, which could cost more than HK$1,000 (US$128) each, placing an additional financial burden on them.
He said employers should be required to provide fan-cooled jackets, just as they were for safety helmets.
“Workers told us that fan-cooled jackets were the most effective personal protective equipment because wearing one could help lower the body temperature,” Chau told a radio programme.
“Our laws and regulations should keep pace with the times. Safety helmets weren’t required before but were added later.
“As fan-cooled jackets have now become a necessity, we should take this opportunity during our discussions to consider requiring employers by law to provide them to our workers during hot weather.”
Lawmaker Lam Chun-sing, chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions, suggested that tender documents should clearly set out requirements for personal heatstroke-prevention equipment and compensation arrangements for project delays caused by heatwaves.
“We hope additional resources can be allocated to help us deal with adverse weather,” he said.
“For example, could equipment requirements be clearly specified in tender documents? Furthermore, if adverse weather, such as extreme heat, causes project delays, could compensation be available if certain criteria are met?”

Lam also called for heatstroke to be added to the list of statutory occupational diseases, saying workers currently found it difficult to prove that their cases were directly related to their jobs.
“If the disease is added as a statutory occupational disease, then workers do not need to prove that much. They just need to meet criteria such as time, work process and the type of work, and will get compensation,” he said.
Lam added that thresholds or requirements for heatstroke could be established, as with other statutory occupational diseases.
“If certain types of work involve a particularly high amount of outdoor conditions or if their outdoor work time exceeds a certain number of hours, there is actually a direct relationship between the work and heatstroke,” he said.
Former Hong Kong Observatory director Lam Chiu-ying also said objective indicators would benefit workers.
“Set an objective indicator first. If a certain time limit or threshold is passed, it is presumed to be heatstroke. The burden of proof then shifts to the employer to prove that it isn’t. This makes the matter much easier for workers,” he said.
Lam also suggested that Hong Kong adopt the mechanism used in mainland China, where daily maximum temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit), 37 degrees and 40 degrees trigger different heat-prevention measures.
The Labour Department recently drew criticism after its Heat Stress at Work Warning system remained at the lowest level despite the Observatory recording a peak temperature of 36.9 degrees Celsius at its Tsim Sha Tsui headquarters on August 9 – the highest since records began in 1884.
Employers are encouraged to give workers additional rest breaks under an amber warning, suspend very heavy labour under a red warning and halt heavy work under a black warning.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said earlier that authorities aimed to complete the revamp of the warning system by the end of this month.


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Labour unions call for mandatory heatstroke-prevention equipment for workers

Unions want Hong Kong employers to be legally required to provide outdoor workers with protective gear during extreme heat. Photo: Karma Lo

Chau Sze-kit, chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, says employers should be required to provide fan-cooled jackets, as they were for safety helmets. Photo: Sun Yeung

The calls for better worker protections during extreme heat came after temperatures hit record highs in the city earlier this month. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong aiming to revamp heat-stress warning system by end of this month

Authorities are reviewing thresholds for Hong Kong’s heat-stress work warnings following criticism over the system’s response to extreme heat. Photo: Sam Tsang

Labour chief Chris Sun says Hong Kong aims to optimise its heat-stress warning system by the end of this month. Photo: Dickson Lee

How Hong Kong can protect manual workers bearing brunt of heatwave

A construction worker carries an electric fan amid the extreme heat. Photo: Sam Tsang

Lam Chiu-ying has called for the mandatory reporting of heatstroke cases at work sites to the Labour Department. Photo: Eugene Lee

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Hong Kong

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Labour leaders urge stronger protections in extreme heat and recognition of heatstroke as statutory occupational disease to aid compensation claims


Labour leaders urge stronger protections in extreme heat and recognition of heatstroke as statutory occupational disease to aid compensation claims.


Hong Kong society

Hong Kong weather

Labour unions call for mandatory heatstroke-prevention equipment for workers

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Labour leaders urge stronger protections in extreme heat and recognition of heatstroke as statutory occupational disease to aid compensation claims

Labour leaders urge stronger protections in extreme heat and recognition of heatstroke as statutory occupational disease to aid compensation claims