Labour Department Offers Free Health Courses and Public Talks on Heat Stroke and Occupational Safety in October

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 the course on the prevention of heat stroke at work in October are as follows:

Topic: Safety Legislation for Working in Times of Inclement Weather and Hot Environment (Course Code: IW)

Dates and time: October 9, 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 for 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: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) for Confined Space Workers

Content: To enhance workers' OSH awareness of working in confined spaces, the talk will explain the related hazards as well as their preventive measures.

Date and time: October 6 (3.30pm to 5pm)

Venue: Lecture Hall, 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

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.

The Labour Department, Photo source: reference image

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming male passenger was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (September 25) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted a 51-year-old incoming Mainland male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (September 24) and seized about 9 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $42,300 and a duty potential of about $31,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account(crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases