Thunderstorm warning in force in Hong Kong: What HR needs to know about electrical work safety

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Employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

The Hong Kong Observatory has extended the thunderstorm warning, with "squally thunderstorms" expected to occur over Hong Kong. The Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by the rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent electric shock as the air would be more humid.

Precautionary measures include:

1. Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;
2. Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;
3. Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;
4. Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and
5. If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

A spokesman for the LD said that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (like electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in times of Typhoons and Rainstorms" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

Regading electrical work safety, employers can refer to the guidebooks and leaflets published by LD.

Photo /  123RF