Labour Department to hold courses and public talks on prevention of heat stroke at work and occupational health
The Labour Department (LD) regularly organises courses and public health talks on the prevention of heat stroke at work and occupational health to raise awareness of occupational health among both employers and employees.
Details of two courses on the prevention of heat stroke at work in October are as follows:
Topic: Safety Regulations on Working in Times of Inclement Weather and Hot Environment (Course Code: IW)
Dates and time: October 2 (half-day (am)); October 6 (half-day (pm))
Venue: Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre of the LD, 13/F, KOLOUR·Tsuen Wan I, 68 Chung On Street, Tsuen Wan, New Territories
Enrolment method: Online registration of Occupational Safety and Health Training Courses (www.oshtc.labour.gov.hk/wpas/?lang=en)
Enquiry hotline: 2940 7057
In addition, the LD will hold the following occupational health public talks in October:
(1)
Topic: Prevention of Lower Limb Disorders and Guidance Notes on Standing at Work
Content: The talk will introduce symptoms of common lower limb disorders such as plantar fasciitis, varicose veins of lower limbs and osteoarthritis of the knee, as well as their treatment and preventive measures. Demonstrations and practice of workplace exercises will be included. Participants will also be briefed on the content of the LD's publication "Guidance Notes on Standing at Work and Service Counter Design".
Date and time: October 2 (3.30pm to 5pm)
Venue: Lecture Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Enrolment method: Online registration (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)
Enquiry hotline: 2852 4040
(2)
Topic: Infection Control in the Workplace
Content: The talk will explain how micro-organisms enter the human body and affect people's health. The concept of infection control in the workplace will also be covered.
Date and time: October 6 (3.30pm to 4.45pm)
Venue: Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Science Museum, 2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon
Enrolment method: Online registration (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)
Enquiry hotline: 2852 4040
(3)
Topic: Occupational Health of Office Workers Series (I) Health Hints on the Use of Computer
Content: The talk will briefly introduce the Occupational Safety and Health (Display Screen Equipment) Regulation, and elaborate on the occupational health hazards and preventive measures associated with prolonged use of computers, to enhance employees' occupational health awareness.
Date and time: October 17 (6.30pm to 8pm)
Venue: Lecture Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Enrolment method: Online registration (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)
Enquiry hotline: 2852 4040
(4)
Topic: Occupational Health in Catering Industry
Content: The talk will introduce the occupational health hazards and their preventive measures for employees working in catering industry to enhance their awareness of occupational health. Demonstrations and practices of workplace exercise are included.
Date and time: October 23 (3pm to 4.30pm)
Venue: Health Education Room of Fanling Occupational Health Clinic of the LD, 7/F, Fanling Health Centre, 2 Pik Fung Road, Fanling,New Territories
Enrolment method: Online registration (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en)
Enquiry hotline: 2852 4040
All courses and public talks will be given by the LD's occupational hygienist, occupational safety officer or occupational health nurse in Cantonese. Admission is free.
The LD also provides a free-of-charge outreach occupational health education service. For details, please visit the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/osh/content7.htm) or call 2852 4062.
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.
An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."
The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
