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

2024-04-23 08:31 Last Updated At：09:53

Stay safe in the storm: electrical safety tips for employers, contractors, and employees at work

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 23) 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.

FS continues to attend Annual Meeting of Asian Development Bank in Georgia (with photos/video)

2024-05-04 09:00 Last Updated At：09:08

Exclusive coverage: fs immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of the asian development bank's annual meeting in georgia (including stunning photos and captivating video)

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, continued his attendance yesterday (May 3, Tbilisi time) at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Tbilisi, Georgia.

In the morning, Mr Chan participated in the Constituency Meeting of the ADB Annual Meeting, where he discussed ADB's work direction and strategy with representatives from a number of member countries. Topics discussed included the future areas of focus, how to better utilise the bank's capital and lending capacity, strengthening knowledge transfer and human resources training, and more.

Assisting ADB developing member countries in effectively addressing climate change is one of the main themes of this year's Annual Meeting. Speaking at the Constituency Meeting, Mr Chan highlighted that Hong Kong possesses a vibrant and high-quality financial market, which can efficiently connect market funds with projects to assist member countries in need to combat climate change and engage in green and low-carbon transition. Hong Kong also actively promotes insurance-linked securities products, and has facilitated the issuance of a number of catastrophe bonds. They have not only helped transfer and spread of the relevant risks to the securities market, but also extended disaster protection to more people. Moreover, Hong Kong's flourishing green tech ecosystem can provide innovative and practical solutions for green development in different countries.

In the afternoon, Mr Chan met with Executive Director representing Hong Kong, China's constituency in the ADB Board of Directors, Ms Rachel Thompson, and Deputy Executive Director, Ms Lisa Wright. They discussed how Hong Kong could better assist ADB developing member countries in sustainable development. Mr Chan said that green tech, green finance, and digital transformation should also be the focal points and key areas of support for member countries by the ADB. Beyond offering financial and professional services, Hong Kong, China may also share its knowledge and experiences in the above areas with ADB members, such as collaborating on relevant activities and human resources training programmes.

Thereafter, Mr Chan met with the Minister of Finance of Georgia, Mr Lasha Khutsishvili. They exchanged views on strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations, investment cooperation, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, etc. Mr Chan said that Hong Kong is an international financial centre with high-quality and excellent professional services, and has well-established air and maritime networks. He is confident that Hong Kong can become an important platform for Georgian enterprises to expand their businesses in the region, and serve as a vital bridge that connects them with the vast market of Mainland China. Mr Chan also explained to Mr Khutsishvili on the latest economic situation in Hong Kong.

In the late afternoon, Mr Chan paid a courtesy visit to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Georgia, Mr Zhou Qian. They exchanged views on the latest developments of Hong Kong and Georgia. In the evening, Mr Chan also attended a reception hosted by the ADB.

Mr Chan will continue to attend events of the ADB Annual Meeting today (May 4, Tbilisi time).

Employers and employees should make work arrangements in times of rainstorm warnings