Tag Archives: China

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Occupational safety and health courses open for applications

     The Kwun Tong Occupational Safety and Health Centre of the Labour Department (LD) will launch a wide range of occupational safety and health courses in the second half of 2018. The courses aim at enhancing the working population’s understanding of the occupational safety regulations, and their awareness of occupational health.

     The courses cover a wide range of topics, including:
 

  1. Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance and Regulations
  2. Confined Spaces Regulation
  3. Regulations Related to Safety in Catering Industry
  4. Dangerous Substances Regulations
  5. Safety Management Regulation
  6. Legal Requirements on Manual Handling Operations
  7. Regulations Related to Safety in Hotel Industry
  8. A Brief Introduction to the Regulation on Display Screen Equipment
  9. Office Workstation Setup
  10. Air monitoring in the Workplace
  11. Lighting Assessment in the Workplace
  12. A Brief Introduction to Noise at Work Regulation
  13. Strategies for the Prevention of Occupational Diseases
  14. Gas Poisoning in Manholes
  15. Occupational Health in Catering Industry
  16. Chemicals and Occupational Health
  17. Medical Examinations for Workers Engaged in Hazardous Occupations in Industrial Undertakings
  18. Manual Handling Operations and Prevention of Back Injuries
  19. Occupational Health Hints for New Recruit Young Employees
  20. Health Hazards of Hot Environment at Work
  21. Health Hints on the Use of Computer
  22. More Exercise, Smart Work
  23. Noise Hazards and Prevention of Hearing Loss
  24. Occupational Health for Office Workers
  25. Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders for Office Workers
  26. Occupational Health for Workers in Pre-primary Education Services
  27. Occupational Health for Cleansing Workers
  28. Occupational Contact Dermatitis
  29. Manual Handling Operations and Prevention of Back Injuries for Workers of Hotel Industry/Residential Care Homes
  30. Occupational Health for Professional Drivers
  31. Work & Common Gastrointestinal Diseases
  32. Prevention of Upper and Lower Limb Disorders
  33. Occupational Stress
  34. Work & Healthy Lifestyle
  35. First Aid in the Workplace

     The courses will mainly be conducted in Cantonese at the LD’s Occupational Safety and Health Centre, G/F, Kwun Tong Community Health Centre Building, 60 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong. Enrolment is free.

     Application forms are available at the centre or offices of the Occupational Safety and Health Branch of the LD. They can also be downloaded from the department’s website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/osh/content6.htm). For enquiries, please call 2361 8240. read more

East Asia

CHP reminds public on precautions against heat stroke during very hot weather

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 1) reminded members of the public, particularly those undertaking outdoor activities, to take heed of necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

     “The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     “Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system,” the spokesman explained.

     “The obese, the sick, including those with heart disease or high blood pressure, the old and the young are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. They should pay special attention,” the spokesman added.

     The public should adopt the following precautions:
 

  • Wear loose and light-coloured clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;
  • Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities like hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion place additional demands on the physique;
  • Perform outdoor activities in the morning or late afternoon;
  • For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation; and
  • Reschedule work to cooler times of the day.

     If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable, and start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Get into a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

     The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index remains high (6 or above):
 
  • Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;
  • Wear loose long-sleeved clothing made of close-woven fabrics;
  • Wear a wide brim hat or use an umbrella;
  • Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;
  • Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above. Apply liberally and reapply after swimming or sweating; and
  • While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

     If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

     The public may get more information from the DH’s Health Education Hotline (2833 0111), heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO’s Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather and forecast, UV Index and weather information for hiking and mountaineering; and press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. read more

East Asia