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| The elderly and those who work under the sun are at high risk for heat-strokes |
The Very Hot Weather warning was issued across Hong Kong on Thursday, as the mercury climbed to 36 degrees Cheung Chau, and slightly lower in Kowloong City and several parts of the New Territories.
The Hong Kong Observatory raised the warning signal throughout the day, and advised residents to seek shelter amid the sweltering heat that could lead to potentially life-threatening conditions such as a heat stroke.
Those most vulnerable to heat-related conditions are outdoor workers, the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions.
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The extreme heat prompted the Labour Department to advise both employers and employees to take extra care and take appropriate measures to prevent heatstroke when working outdoors of places with hot environments.
It also expressed sorrow over the death of a 42-year-old worker who died on Wednesday after fainting at a construction site at the Prince of Wales Hospital.
According to a labour official the worker’s employers had taken heat stress preventive measures and that the woker had been going about his tasks in a shaded area.
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Nevertheless, employers are advised to assess their employees’ risk factors when working under the sun, and take appropriate measures accordingly, like rescheduling work periods, setting up sun shades and providing ventilation and heat dissipation equipment.
They should also remind their employees to increase their water intake and take a break whenever necessary.
Amid the rising temperatures Labour has relaunched a subsidy program to help small businesses and labor unions obtain cooling equipment. Through this program, workers can buy at special low price specialized gear including air-conditioned vests and upgraded solar-powered fans for high-risk industries like construction and sanitation.
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Occupational Safety and Health Council Executive Director Yau Man told reporters that authorities have procured approximately 2,000 air-conditioned vests for the subsidy program.
She urged eligible businesses that wish to avail of the subsidized heat protection gear to submit applications before the July 18 deadline, emphasizing the equipment's proven effectiveness in mitigating heat stress for outdoor workers.
According to the Observatory, an anticyclone has caused very hot weather to sweep across the the coast of Guangdong, including Hong Kong.
