Prevention of Heat Stroke in the Cleansing Industry

Cleansing workers perform intensive manual work in their daily cleansing assignments. On hot and humid summer days, they are at risk of heat stroke if appropriate preventive measures are not taken. The following are some of the common work situations where a higher risk of heat stroke may be present to cleansing workers and therefore extra precautions should be taken.

• working outdoors under direct sunlight - Some cleansing work processes like road sweeping, external wall cleaning and rubbish collection are usually conducted outdoors. In summer, cleansing workers engaged in these outdoor work activities are exposed to hot weather. If they are working under direct sunlight, they will likely experience greater heat stress, and will be at higher risk of heat stroke;
• wearing personal protective equipment - Some cleansing workers are engaged in cleansing and disinfection work at buildings or public places to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. In such circumstances, they are required to wear various kinds of personal protective equipment such as head covers, masks, aprons and boots, which will likely hinder the evaporation of sweat and hence prevent the body from cooling down properly;
• performing intensive manual work - Most cleaning workers have to handle and transport a large amount of items during rubbish collection. They sometimes have to lift or carry heavy objects like old furniture, disposed electric appliances or even construction waste materials. These activities all involve vigorous manual work and generate a large amount of heat in the body, imposing an excessive heat load; and
• working in a poorly ventilated environment - Some cleansing workers may have to work in stuffy staircases or alleys, while some others work at shopping arcades after business hours when the air conditioning has been shut down. In the absence of adequate air movement, the heat stress on workers will increase.

Duties of employers under the health and safety laws

Under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, employers are required to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of their employees. The duties include, among other things, the provision and maintenance of a work environment for their employees that is, so far as reasonably practicable, safe, and without risks to health.

To ensure adequate protection of workers from heat stroke, employers should arrange for a suitable assessment of heat stress in the work environment and take appropriate preventive measures.

Purpose of heat stress assessment

In simple terms, a heat stress assessment is a systematic evaluation of the thermal conditions in the work environment. It serves to:

• identify potential hazards from work activity under the thermal conditions of the workplace, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke;
  
• decide who may be harmed; and
  
• evaluate the risks and decide whether improvement measures are needed to protect workers.

How to conduct a heat stress assessment

Heat stress assessments for most cleansing work can be conducted simply with a checklist. One can learn more about the use of a checklist by reading the publication "Risk Assessment for the Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work". This publication has recently been issued by the Labour Department to help responsible persons understand how to conduct a heat stress assessment with a checklist. The publication not only provides a sample checklist and various examples of specific control measures, it also gives an example of a completed checklist for readers' reference.

In complicated cases, or if there is any uncertainty, employers should consider engaging a person with knowledge, experience and competence in heat stress and its assessment to conduct a detailed and comprehensive risk assessment.

Specific preventive measures in the cleansing industry

Responsible persons and workers should take out effective preventive measures based on the results of the assessment. The following are some measures which can be deployed in cleansing work:

• take heed of weather reports. In case of a "Very Hot Weather Warning", high UV index or humid weather, enhance control measures, e.g. where practicable, reschedule work to cooler periods in the day and arrange the work at a cooler location;
  
• workers should wear light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing made of natural materials, which should not pose any safety concern;
  
• workers should wear wide-brimmed hats to block away sunlight. On construction sites, light-coloured safety helmets should be worn;
  
• provide suitable mechanical aids, such as trolleys, for workers to minimize physical demand in manual handling operations;
  
• increase air flow at the workers' positions with appropriate ventilation equipment, such as portable blowing fans, when the ventilation is inadequate;
  
• provide adequate supply of cool potable water for workers during work at all times. Workers should be encouraged to take plenty of water;
  
• arrange suitable rest breaks for workers and provide a cool, shaded rest area for them;
  
• allow time for acclimatization for those workers not yet accustomed to a hot work environment; and
  
• ensure that workers are adequately trained in recognizing the symptoms of heat stroke, and in taking out appropriate precautionary measures and emergency response actions.

For more information about preventive measures against heat stroke, employers and employees can refer either to the aforementioned publication, or to the leaflet, "Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work in a Hot Environment" (PDF), also produced by the Labour Department.