As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

     A spokesman for the LD said today (August 27) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (like electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and 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" issued by the LD.

     Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by the rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure 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;

(ii) 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;

(iii) 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;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) 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.

     In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

     The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

     Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     Members of the public are advised to report any street flooding that comes to their notice to the Drainage Services Department by calling the 24-hour drainage hotline on 2300 1110.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 27) investigating a case of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection, and hence reminded the public to maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene against intestinal infections.

     The case involves a newborn baby girl, who was born at a private hospital on August 11. She presented with blood stained stool on the next day. The patient has been in a stable condition all along and was discharged on August 13.

     Her stool specimen grew STEC upon laboratory testing.

     Initial enquiries of the CHP revealed that the patient's mother was asymptomatic all along and had no recent travel history before giving birth. The patient’s mother had neither consumed unpasteurised milk or raw food, had contact with animals nor visited farms during the incubation period. The patient’s other home contacts remained asymptomatic. Investigations are ongoing.

     "Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium that is commonly found in the gut of humans and warm-blooded animals. Most strains of E. coli are harmless. Some strains, however, such as STEC, can produce powerful toxins and cause severe food-borne disease. The most recognised serogroup of STEC is E. coli O157:H7," a spokesman for the CHP explained.

     Preventive measures for STEC infections are similar to those recommended for other food-borne diseases. The public are advised to observe good personal and food hygiene:
 

• Wash hands properly with liquid soap and water before eating or handling food, and after going to the toilet or changing diapers;
• Cook food and boil water thoroughly before consumption. Most food-borne viruses and bacteria (including STEC) can be killed when food is cooked or reheated long enough at sufficient high temperature. When cooking or reheating, the core temperature of the food should reach at least 75 degrees Celsius;
• Avoid consumption of unpasteurised milk or undercooked food; and
• Consult a doctor immediately if symptoms of STEC infection, particularly bloody diarrhoea, develop.
   

     The public may visit the CHP's STEC page for more information.

     The Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, continued his visit in Beijing today (August 27).
 
    Mr Lee called on Member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee Mr Guo Shengkun and State Councillor and Minister of Public Security Mr Zhao Kezhi in the morning to update them on the latest law and order situation in Hong Kong.
 
    In the afternoon, Mr Lee, leading the Hong Kong Disciplined Services Cultural Exchange Delegation, was received by the Vice-Premier of the State Council, Mr Han Zheng, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
 
    Mr Lee then met with the Head of the National Office of Port Administration of the General Administration of Customs, Mr Zhang Guangzhi, to exchange views on issues of port administration.
 
     Mr Lee will call on the Ministry of Transport and its Rescue and Salvage Bureau before returning to Hong Kong tomorrow (August 28).

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) today (August 27) announced the following medical incident concerning a patient with temporary tracheostomy:
 
     On August 4, 2018, a nursing student who was working in a surgical ward tried to perform tracheal suction for a 61-year-old male patient with a temporary tracheostomy after learning the patient felt discomfort with sputum retention. The student attempted to perform the procedure but in vain. The patient was found to have small amount of blood-stained vomitus. The student then sought immediate assistance from a duty nurse in the ward, who took over the procedure together with other nurses in the ward to support the patient. The condition of the patient kept deteriorating and the patient's tracheostomy tube was also found displaced.
 
     Two on-duty doctors in the ward also arrived shortly and started airway management and resuscitation for the patient. During the process, the patient developed cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CRP) was initiated immediately. The patient resumed circulation after around 30 minutes. He was then transferred to the intensive care unit for further management. The patient's condition further deteriorated and he succumbed last Saturday (August 25).
 
     After receiving the report on the incident, the hospital management initiated on August 7 a preliminary investigation by reviewing the procedure of tracheostomy suction being performed by the nursing student, the patient's symptom of shortness of breath and the resuscitation process. According to the Hospital Authority's prevailing protocol, supervision and guidance must be provided when a nursing student is performing tracheostomy suction for patients.
  
     TMH has been closely communicating with the patient's relatives and apologised for not adhering to the protocol whereby supervision and guidance must be provided to a nursing student for the aforementioned procedure. TMH expressed deep condolence to the relatives. The Patient Relations Officer and Clinical Psychologist have been arranged to render necessary support to them. The case has been referred to the Coroner for necessary follow-up. 
 
     TMH has reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office and an investigation will be launched. The hospital has also reminded ward management staff to strictly follow the protocol that supervision and guidance should be given to nursing students when special nursing care procedures are being performed.