Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorms
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 (June 28) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (such as 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 a rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent an 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 that 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-found images
Commissioner of Customs and Excise leads delegation to Belgium to attend World Customs Organization meetings with fruitful results
The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, in his capacity as the World Customs Organization (WCO) Vice-Chairperson for the Asia/Pacific (A/P) Region, attended the 94th Session of the Policy Commission and the 147th/148th Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) Sessions of the WCO in Brussels, Belgium, from June 22 to 27. At the CCC Sessions of the WCO yesterday (June 27), Hong Kong Customs, in the name of Hong Kong, China, was re-elected as the WCO Vice-Chairperson for the A/P Region and elected as the Chairperson of the WCO Audit Committee.
Mr Chan in his capacity as the WCO Vice-Chairperson for the A/P Region, first led a delegation to attend the 94th Session of the Policy Commission from June 22 to 24, where he represented the interests and views of A/P members in discussions on WCO's strategic direction and functions.
Subsequently, from June 25 to 27, he also attended the 147th/148th CCC Sessions, the WCO's annual high-level meeting assembling heads and senior officials from 187 Customs administrations worldwide. The sessions serve as a pivotal platform for advancing global co-operation on enforcement, trade facilitation, standards development and capacity building. Hong Kong Customs was re-elected as the Vice-Chairperson for the A/P region (2026-28) and the Chairperson of the WCO Audit Committee (2026-27) during the sessions. Mr Chan said it was a privilege for Hong Kong Customs to assume these two important roles in leading the development of the A/P Region and making a greater contribution to the global Customs community. He expressed his sincere gratitude to all members for their continued trust and support, and pledged that Hong Kong Customs is committed to strengthening the bridge between theWCOandA/Pmembers, and to working together to build a more resilient, connected, and influential regional community.
On the sidelines of the sessions, Mr Chan met with the Secretary General of the WCO, Mr Ian Saunders, the WCO Council Chairperson, Mr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and other regional WCO Vice-Chairpersons to exchange views on various customs policies and future developments. In addition, Mr Chan also met with the Chairman of the Customs Committee under the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr Akmalkhuja Mavlonov, to strengthen mutual collaboration and explore future development opportunities.
Moreover, Mr Chan met with the Director General of the National Customs Service of the Republic of Chile, Ms Alejandra Arriaza Loeb, and signed the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on June 26, that enables AEOs of both economies to enjoy reciprocal trade facilitation benefits, including reduced inspection rates and prioritised customs clearance. The MRA marks the expansion of the Hong Kong AEO network to another South American economy following its first expansion to the region with the AEO MRA signed with Peruvian Customs in December last year.
To advance the development of the Hong Kong AEO Programme in the South American region, the Assistant Commissioner (WCO) of Customs and Excise, Mr Li Kin-kei, also signed an AEO MRA Action Plan with the Coordinator-General of Customs Administration of the Special Secretariat of the Federal Revenue of Brazil, Mr Felipe Mendes Moraes, on June 27, officially commencing the negotiations for an AEO MRA with Brazilian Customs.
Hong Kong Customs will continue to extend the AEO network, and continue its discussions on MRAs with Belt and Road economies, member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, as well as African and South American countries to further expand the MRA network.
Commissioner of Customs and Excise leads delegation to Belgium to attend World Customs Organization meetings with fruitful results Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Commissioner of Customs and Excise leads delegation to Belgium to attend World Customs Organization meetings with fruitful results Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Commissioner of Customs and Excise leads delegation to Belgium to attend World Customs Organization meetings with fruitful results Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Commissioner of Customs and Excise leads delegation to Belgium to attend World Customs Organization meetings with fruitful results Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Commissioner of Customs and Excise leads delegation to Belgium to attend World Customs Organization meetings with fruitful results Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Commissioner of Customs and Excise leads delegation to Belgium to attend World Customs Organization meetings with fruitful results Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
