Hong Kong to revamp 'baffling' work heat stress warnings after record temperatures trigger lowest alerts

Hong Kong's Labour Department is set to overhaul its heat stress warning system, a move prompted by criticism that it failed to adequately reflect record-breaking temperatures.

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When we saw the Heat Stress at Work warning system hadn’t been raised as the temperature changed on Saturday and Monday, we also had a lot of questions.

Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui acknowledged confusion within the department when the system remained at its lowest "amber" level despite soaring temperatures, including a record high of 36.9 degrees Celsius on Sunday. This occurred while a tropical cyclone influenced the weather. The system's low sensitivity to extreme heat led a former Observatory chief to label it "baffling" and "decorative."

Hui stated that the department will collaborate with the Observatory to enhance the system's sensitivity to unusually high temperatures. He noted that while the current system accounts for Hong Kong's hot and humid conditions, it is less responsive to direct heat. The current warning system includes amber, red, and black alerts, recommending different rest arrangements for outdoor or non-air-conditioned workers, though these recommendations are not legally binding. The red and black warnings, which would trigger work suspensions for strenuous tasks, have never been activated.

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baffling

The review, expected to be completed this summer, will focus on improving the system's responsiveness. The existing Heat Index, which triggers the amber warning at 30 and higher alerts at 32 and 34, considers air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has previously warned of increasing heatwave intensity and frequency due to climate change.

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decorative