The Kwun Tong Occupational Safety and Health Centre of the Labour Department (LD) will launch a wide range of occupational safety and health courses in the second half of 2024. The courses aim at enhancing the working population's understanding of the occupational safety regulations and their awareness of occupational health.   
 
     The courses cover a wide range of topics, including:
 

1. Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance and Regulations
2. Gas Poisoning in Manholes
3. Confined Spaces Regulations
4. Major Safety Regulations Related to Working in Catering Trade
5. Dangerous Substances Regulations
6. Safety Management Regulation
7. Safety Regulations on Manual Handling Operations
8. Regulations Related to Safety in Hotel Industry
9. Safety Regulations on Working in Times of Inclement Weather and Hot Environment
10. Major Safety Regulations Related to Accident Prevention in Office and Storage Work
11. A Brief Introduction to the Regulation on Display Screen Equipment
12. Office Workstation Setup
13. Air Monitoring and Ventilation Systems in the Workplaces
14. Lighting Assessment in the Workplaces
15. Guidance Notes on Standing at Work
16. A Brief Introduction to Noise at Work Regulation
17. More Exercise, Smart Work
18. Strategies for the Prevention of Occupational Diseases
19. Occupational Health in Catering Industry
20. Chemicals and Occupational Health
21. Medical Examinations for Workers Engaged in Hazardous Occupations in Industrial Undertakings
22. Manual Handling Operations and Prevention of Back Injuries
23. Occupational Health for Security Guards
24. Chemicals and Occupational Health in Hotel Industry
25. Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work in a Hot Environment
26. Occupational Health for Office Workers
27. Health Hints on the Use of Computer
28. Prevention of Upper and Lower Limb Disorders
29. Noise Hazards and Prevention of Hearing Loss
30. Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders for Office Workers
31. Occupational Health for Cleansing Workers
32. Occupational Contact Dermatitis
33. Manual Handling Operations and Prevention of Back Injuries for Workers of Residential Care Home
34. Occupational Health for Professional Drivers
35. Work and Common Gastrointestinal Diseases
36. Occupational Stress
37. Happy Workplace
38. Work and Healthy Lifestyle
39. Work and Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension
40. First Aid in the Workplaces
41. Work and Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases
42. Easy Tips for Healthy Eating at Work

 
     The courses will be conducted in Cantonese at the LD's Occupational Safety and Health Centre, G/F, Kwun Tong Community Health Centre Building, 60 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong. Enrolment is free.
 
     Members of the public can apply via the online platform www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en or by fax. Please visit the LD's website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/osh/content6.htm) for more details and call 2361 8240 for enquiries.

     The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, departs for Dunhuang today (June 3), to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Dunhuang Youth Internship Programme 2024.

     The Dunhuang Youth Internship Programme is one of the projects under the Thematic Youth Internship Programmes to the Mainland, providing internship positions for Hong Kong youths at the Dunhuang Academy, allowing them to gain unique work experience under the guidance of experts from the Academy, participate in the promotion of Dunhuang culture, and deepen their understanding of Chinese culture. Miss Mak will officiate at the inauguration ceremony of the internship programme on June 5 and exchange views with the participants.

     During her visit in Dunhuang, Miss Mak will meet with leaders of the Dunhuang Academy, visit the Academy's facilities, observe the intern's cave-learning activities, and learn about heritage conservation work and the internship programme.

     After attending the inauguration ceremony, Miss Mak will commence her visit to Chengdu to exchange views with representatives of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Sichuan Provincial People's Government and learn about the city's community projects.

     â€‹Miss Mak will return to Hong Kong on June 6. During her absence, the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung, will act as the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs.
 

  

     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 (June 3) 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 Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" 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.

     Owing to the thunderstorm warning, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (June 3) will be cancelled.

     If the thunderstorm warning is cancelled and weather conditions permit by then, the flag-raising ceremony may be resumed without further notice.