Precautionary measures in times of typhoons and adverse weather to safeguard occupational safety of employees
As Super Typhoon Ragasa is edging closer, Hong Kong is expected to be affected by its strong winds and heavy rain in the coming days. To safeguard the safety of employees and ensure equipment at workplaces is secure, the Labour Department (LD) today (September 22) reminds employers (including contractors and responsible persons for workplaces) to take appropriate precautionary measures immediately.
A spokesperson for the LD said, "According to the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, employers have an obligation to ensure the safety and health of employees at work, including providing and maintaining safe workplaces, safe systems of work and safe plant. If employees are required to work under adverse weather or extreme conditions, employers must, so far as reasonably practicable, ensure that the hazards associated with relevant working environments are properly controlled and the risks are reduced to the minimum."
Those who contravene the relevant provisions under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.
The spokesperson continued,"Before the advent of typhoons or adverse weather, employers should pay attention to weather forecasts issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, suspend all non-essential outdoor work, and arrange for employees to take shelter in safe locations or leave work early. If it is necessary to arrange for employees to be on duty, employers must conduct advance assessments of the work risks caused by typhoons or adverse weather, promptly make work arrangements and take corresponding precautionary measures."
The spokesman also reminded employers that they must promptly take appropriate precautionary measures and secure all outdoor equipment (e.g. scaffolds, working platforms, lifting appliances, suspended working platforms, temporary power supply equipment, etc) to prevent accidents.
After the typhoons or adverse weather have passed, employers, and employees should remain vigilant, inspect the workplaces and take adequate safety measures before fully resuming work. Employees should also co-operate by following safety instructions and by using safety equipment.
Beef and beef congee samples found to contain sulphur dioxide
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 6) that two beef samples collected from a licensed food factory in North District were found to contain sulphur dioxide, contravening the provisions on preservative of the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD) (the Regulation). The CFS is following up on the incident. The food factory concerned has suspended its business.
A spokesman for the CFS said, "Subsequent to the earlier announcement that a beef congee sample taken from a licensed general restaurant in Wah Kwai Estate, Aberdeen, was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a follow-up investigation by the CFS revealed that the beef concerned was suspected to be supplied by the licensed food factory mentioned above. The CFS has immediately taken follow-up action and collected beef samples from the relevant food factory for testing. The test results showed that the two beef samples contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 7 700 parts per million (ppm) and 8 300 ppm respectively."
"As instructed by the CFS, the concerned licensed general restaurant in Wah Kwai Estate, Aberdeen has earlier stopped the sale of the relevant beef congee. The CFS had collected another beef congee sample for follow-up investigation before the restaurant concerned stopped selling the relevant product, and the test result showed that the beef congee sample contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 540 ppm," the spokesman added.
The CFS has informed the food factory concerned of the irregularities and instructed it to stop the sale of the products concerned and discard relevant raw materials. During an inspection to the food factory concerned, stains were detected in several areas of the premises, and a gap at the door was found. Prosecution was then initiated to the relevant person; and a Notice of Elimination of Vermin was issued under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132) Section 47(1), requiring the person-in-charge of the premises to adopt necessary procedures to remove any items causing rodent infestation within specified time frame, failing which prosecution will be instituted.
According to the Regulation, contravening relevant provisions on preservatives is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.
Sulphur dioxide is a preservative which can be used in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products, but under the Regulation it is not permitted in fresh or chilled meat. Individual meat traders have been found illegally using sulphur dioxide to make meat look fresher. Sulphur dioxide is water-soluble, and most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption.
The CFS will continue to follow up on the incidents and take appropriate action. Prosecution will be instituted for the violation of the Regulation. The investigation is ongoing.
Source: AI-found images
