Tai mo shan unveils cutting-edge weather radar system
The new Tai Mo Shan weather radar (TMSWR) of the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) was installed in March 2024 and has come into operation to provide essential observation data for monitoring various inclement weather conditions including thunderstorms, rainstorms and tropical cyclones.
The Director of the HKO, Dr Chan Pak-wai said, "Situated on the highest peak in Hong Kong, the weather radar at Tai Mo Shan has been an indispensable observing equipment for the HKO in weather monitoring. The commissioning of the new TMSWR is of paramount importance to the HKO to meet growing challenges of extreme weather".
At a cost of around $31 million, the new TMSWR is the second dual-polarisation S-band Doppler weather radar in Hong Kong. It is capable of identifying hail areas and raindrop sizes in the air, and is useful for monitoring hail and rainfall rates. Compared to the first dual-polarisation S-band Doppler weather radar at Tate's Cairn (TCWR) that started operation in 2015, the new TMSWR is equipped with more advanced hardware and software modules, providing higher power for the transmission of radar pulses, smaller attenuation of radar signals, lower system noise, a better graphic user interface and more software utility functions for easier radar control. These new technologies enable the generation of higher-quality products to facilitate weather analysis.
The new TMSWR is operating in tandem with the TCWR to provide round-the-clock radar images for severe weather monitoring. The public can access the regularly updated radar images via the HKO website and the mobile application "MyObservatory".
Source: AI-generated images
Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorm
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 (July 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 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.
Source: AI-generated images
