Labour Dept warns employers, workers on electrical safety in rain
Hong Kong's Labour Department urged employers and contractors to avoid assigning workers to electrical work in rain-hit areas, and to follow safety guidelines even in dry locations due to humid conditions. Measures include isolating power, using protective gear and conducting risk assessments before
Hong Kong's Labour Department today (14 November) reminded employers, contractors and employees to take extra precautions when carrying out electrical work during heavy rain. The department said employers and contractors should avoid assigning workers to perform electrical tasks, such as arc welding, or handle electrical installations in areas affected by stormy weather.
Even in locations not directly exposed to rain, the department noted that higher humidity still poses a risk of electric shock. It urged all parties to refer to its published codes and guides on working safely in adverse weather and extreme conditions.
The Labour Department listed five key safety measures. These include ensuring all live parts of the electrical system are isolated from the power source and kept disconnected throughout the work; switching off and locking the power supply, testing to confirm circuits are dead, displaying appropriate warnings and issuing a work permit before starting work; making sure protective devices such as fuses and circuit breakers are installed and in good working order, and that portable power tools are double-insulated or properly earthed; providing workers with personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and mats; and, if live work is unavoidable, requiring a qualified person to conduct a full risk assessment and ensure all proper safety measures are followed to eliminate or control electrical hazards.
Employees are also required to cooperate with employers and contractors, follow safety instructions and use safety equipment.
The department has prepared safety guides and leaflets on electrical work safety, available free at its district offices or for download from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/tc/public/content2_8.htm). For enquiries on occupational safety and health, the department can be reached at 2559 2297.