Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorm

2024-04-26 08:37 Last Updated At：08:48

Stay safe at work: electrical safety tips for employers, contractors, and employees in rainy conditions

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 (April 26) 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.

LCSD's "Dance for All" Community Care Inclusive Dance Scheme commences today

2024-05-05 18:20 Last Updated At：18:28

New inclusive dance program launches today: lcsd's "dance for all" community care scheme

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department today (May 5) launched the "Dance for All" Community Care Inclusive Dance Scheme which runs until July 2025. This 15-month scheme, based at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC), serves as a platform for people with different abilities to enjoy dancing together, thus achieving social inclusion.

Officiating at today's kick-off ceremony were the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu, and veteran local dance artist and Artistic Advisor of the scheme, Andy Wong. In his opening remarks, Mr Liu recalled that during his visit to the Xinghai Concert Hall inGuangzhou last year, he came across an inclusive music programme for people with disabilities and found it meaningful. He shared the experience with colleagues and, with the support from Wong, the "Dance for All" scheme was launched today. Mr Liu expressed his hope that through the scheme, members of the public can feel the joy of inclusive dance.

Today, DancingAndy and Dancers collaborated with young people from four inclusive dance groups in a series of performances, including wheelchair dance. There was also an interactive session in which all audience members were invited to dance together. Approximately 1 000 people attended the event today, around 100 of whom were children with disabilities. The atmosphere was warm and the audience were keen to participate, fully showing the unity and harmony between disabled and non-disabled people.

The "Dance for All" scheme provides year-long in-school training for 40 students at two special schools. This will culminate in a finale performance to be held in July 2025 at the HKCC Studio Theatre to demonstrate the fruits of learning. During the course of the scheme, a wide array of inclusive activities will also take place at the HKCC, such as a dance carnival featuring different inclusive dance groups, as well as a series of workshops and dance shows. Apart from local artists, a Swedish group that specialises in dance for neurodiverse children will come to Hong Kong and perform in July. Programme highlights will be uploaded onto the LCSD's Edutainment Channel to share with the public the scheme's progress. Please refer to the Annex for details of various programmes under the scheme.

For more details of the scheme, please call 2591 1300 or visit www.abo.gov.hk/en/scheme/idc2425.

To show care for senior citizens, people with different abilities and other communities in need, the LCSD has introduced the Community Care Series which offers a vast range of recreational, sports and cultural activities and facilities. More details can be found on its webpage at www.lcsd.gov.hk/edutainment/en/for_care/index.html.

Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorm

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Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorm

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