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 (August 26) 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
FEHD releases fifth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in August
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (August 26) released the fifth batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in August, covering 18 survey areas, as follows:
District
Survey Area
First Phase Gravidtrap Index
First Phase Density Index
Central and Western
Kennedy Town and Shek Tong Tsui
5.5%
1.0
Eastern
North Point and Quarry Bay
5.0%
1.3
Sham Shui Po
Sham Shui Po and Shek Kip Mei
6.8%
1.0
Yau Tsim
Tsim Sha Tsui and Yau Ma Tei
0.0%
N/A
North
Sheung Shui
6.5%
1.0
Sai Kung
Tseung Kwan O North
9.1%
1.0
Sha Tin
Ma On Shan
8.3%
1.0
Kwai Tsing
Kwai Chung East
2.3%
1.0
Tsuen Wan
Tsuen Wan Town
5.2%
1.0
Tuen Mun
Tuen Mun South
5.5%
1.3
District
Survey Area
Area Gravidtrap Index
Area Density Index
Central and Western
Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun
19.5%
1.4
Southern
Pok Fu Lam
7.0%
1.1
Islands
Cheung Chau
1.8%
1.0
Sham Shui Po
Cheung Sha Wan
9.3%
1.9
Wong Tai Sin
Ngau Chi Wan and San Po Kong
6.4%
1.4
North
Fanling South
5.8%
1.2
Kwai Tsing
Kwai Chung West
7.8%
1.0
Yuen Long
Yuen Long Town
13.6%
1.3
During the rainy season, the FEHD continues to carry out a series of mosquito prevention and elimination measures, including:
- interdepartmental collaboration: convening special meetings of the interdepartmental task forces on anti-mosquito work to co-ordinate relevant departments and stakeholders (such as construction site contractors, schools and property management companies) in strengthening mosquito control work at venues;
- precise risk assessments: carrying out intensive and targeted mosquito control work at locations with more serious mosquito infestations, including stepping up inspections, eliminating mosquito breeding and potential breeding grounds, applying larvicides, conducting fogging operations to eradicate adult mosquitoes, and placing mosquito trapping devices at appropriate locations;
- promotion and education: organising exhibitions with relevant departments and stakeholders, and distributing leaflets and posters to enhance public awareness of mosquito control and prevention; and
- rapid alert mechanism: notifying residential estates that have subscribed to the gravidtrap Rapid Alert System, and advising property management companies and residents to stay vigilant and work together in taking mosquito prevention and elimination measures.
During the follow-up actions and following the discovery of stagnant water at a construction site and a private housing estate in Central and Western District and Yuen Long District, the FEHD has issued a total of two statutory notices to the responsible persons-in-charge, requiring the clearance of such stagnant water within a specified timeframe.
Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including:
- tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside the premises;
- remove all unnecessary water collections and eliminate the sources;
- check household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks to prevent stagnant water;
- change water in flower vases and scrub their inner surfaces thoroughly, and remove water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week;
- properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water;
- properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as disposable meal boxes and empty cans; and
- scrub drains and surface sewers with alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
Starting in August 2025, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reduing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission.
Following recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 62 survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The Gravidtrap and Density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department's webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (August 26) released the fifth batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in August, covering 18 survey areas. Photo shows an FEHD staff member inspecting a public housing estate in Sheung Shui, North District, and providing the estate management staff member with advice and technical support on mosquito prevention and control. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (August 26) released the fifth batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in August, covering 18 survey areas. Photo shows an FEHD staff member conducting a fogging operation with a mechanical ultra-low volume fogger in the vicinity of Ma On Shan, Sha Tin District, to eliminate adult mosquitoes. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (August 26) released the fifth batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in August, covering 18 survey areas. Photo shows an FEHD staff member inspecting a construction site in Yuen Long Town, Yuen Long District. Following the discovery of stagnant water inside the construction site, a statutory notice has been issued to the relevant construction site contractor, requiring the clearance of such stagnant water within a specified timeframe. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (August 26) released the fifth batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in August, covering 18 survey areas. Photo shows an FEHD staff member inspecting a private housing estate in Sheung Wan, Central and Western District. Following the discovery of stagnant water inside the private housing estate, a statutory notice has been issued to the relevant property management company, requiring the clearance of such stagnant water within a specified timeframe. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
