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Hong Kong heat warning system leaves contractors exposed during extreme days
After temperatures reached 39.8 degrees Celsius in Sheung Shui on August 9, the Labour Department’s Heat Stress at Work Warning stayed at amber, the lowest level.
Hong Kong’s heatwave debate has focused on protecting frontline workers, but a separate concern is emerging around the site managers and project supervisors responsible for worker safety, project delivery, and contractual compliance, according to an opinion piece in the South China Morning Post.
The article highlights criticism of Hong Kong’s Heat Stress at Work Warning system, including arguments from three former Hong Kong Observatory directors that the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, or WBGT, might better reflect conditions for outdoor workers than the Hong Kong Heat Index.
It also points to a gap between contractual requirements and day to day operational reality. The latest construction contracts increasingly recognize extreme heat as a basis for extension of time claims, but that relief is tied to the Labour Department’s Heat Stress at Work Warning system.
The piece says the August 9 heat in Sheung Shui reached 39.8 degrees Celsius, or 103.6 Fahrenheit, yet the warning remained at amber, the lowest level. It argues the Labour Department needs a clearer approach for cases where managers believe stronger precautions are warranted, but the official trigger for contractual protections does not activate.