Over 30% of sanitation workers not informed by employers about heat stress warnings, survey finds

Over 30 per cent of sanitation workers are not being informed by employers when the Labour Department’s heat stress warnings are raised, a survey has found.

Cleaners in the New Territories. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

The Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions (HKFLU) said at a press conference on Monday that it had surveyed 546 sanitation workers between May and July, local media reported.

Asked whether they were told by employers when the Heat Stress at Work Warning alert was in effect, 32 per cent said “no.”

The warning system was rolled out in May 2023 to protect outdoor workers from being exposed to extreme heat by requiring regular rest periods. Under the system, there are three levels of alerts – amber, red and black.

See also: 3 outdoor workers on how Hong Kong’s extreme heat and humidity take their toll

The system’s guidelines recommend longer break times when more severe warnings are in place. Those undertaking physical workloads classified as “heavy” or “very heavy” are asked to suspend their work when the red or black alerts are in place.

Hourly rest arrangements for outdoor work in times of Heat Stress at Work Warning. Photo: Labour Department website screenshot.

The HKFLU also said that since the warning system was introduced three years ago, alerts have been activated close to 200 times. The Labour Department keeps a public record of the alerts.

The union coalition pointed out that only amber alerts have been raised so far. The government should review its standards for activating red and black alerts, it said.

Heatstroke

The survey also found that around seven per cent of workers had experienced heatstroke on the job.

Many sanitation workers did not have suitable environments for resting, the union said, with 41 per cent saying they were only able to rest outdoors, and 36 per cent saying they could only take a break in refuse collection stations.

A spokesperson from the Occupational Safety and Health Association, Li Jie-hua, said at the press conference that some break rooms that were located inside refuse collection stations had poor conditions such as mould on the walls and bad smells.

Pattie cleans fallen leaves from a drain in the New Territories, Hong Kong. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

The air conditioners in some rooms were broken, she said, adding that workers told the union that the temperatures inside the rooms could be even higher than outside.

The HKFLU recommended that authorities provide more information about occupational safety to workers and review the warning system.

Employers should also provide supplies to workers such as cooling sleeves and wide-brimmed hats, and also allow them to wear their own gear at work.

Record-breaking heat

Last month, the Hong Kong Observatory warned that the city may experience record-breaking high temperatures this year and next year.

File photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

The expected hot weather is attributed to climate change and forecasts of a strong El Niño event, a natural climate phenomenon whereby sea surface temperatures in parts of the Pacific become abnormally warm.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that the intensity and frequency of heatwaves have continued to increase since the 1950s due to human-caused climate change. The prevalence of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide – which trap heat in the atmosphere – raises the planet’s surface temperature, with hotter, longer heatwaves putting lives at risk.

See also: How extreme heat became the deadliest silent killer among world weather disasters

Hong Kong has already warmed by 1.7 degrees Celsius since the Industrial Revolution, research NGO Berkeley Earth says. Heat and humidity may reach lethal levels for protracted periods by the end of the century, according to a 2023 study, making it impossible to stay outdoors in some parts of the world.