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If the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal remains in force at the end of working hours, employees should stay in a safe place until the heavy rain has passed.
The Hong Kong Observatory issued the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal at 12:55pm, indicating that heavy rainfall exceeding 70mm per hour has occurred or is expected across the territory, and is likely to continue.
According to the present assessment, the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal will at least remain in force until 3pm.
The Labour Department (LD) has reminded employers to make prior work arrangements and contingency plans for employees during and after rainstorm warnings and extreme conditions as early as possible. These arrangements should be reasonable, practical, and clearly communicated to all employees in advance.
The work arrangements should cover the following areas:
- arrangements in respect of reporting for duty;
- arrangements in respect of early release from work;
- arrangements in respect of work resumption (e.g. the number of hours within which employees should resume duty after the relevant warning signal is cancelled or when extreme conditions come to an end, and when safety and traffic conditions allow);
- arrangements in respect of remote work (if applicable);
- arrangements regarding wages and allowances (e.g. calculation of wages and allowances in respect of reporting for duty); and
- arrangements for staff required to report for duty in times of adverse weather or extreme conditions.
During a Black Rainstorm Warning, employees who are working indoors should continue to work as usual. However, if workplace conditions become unsafe, employers should arrange for early release where practicable and safe to do so, or provide temporary shelter in a safe place for employees.
For employees working outdoors or in exposed areas, supervisors should suspend outdoor duties as soon as practicable and arrange for employees to take shelter. Work should only resume when weather conditions permit.
If the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal remains in force at the end of working hours, employees are advised to stay in a safe place until the heavy rain has passed. Employers should also make available to employees a suitable area in the workplace as temporary shelter.
The LD has also advised employers and contractors to avoid assigning electrical work, such as electric arc welding work, or handling electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms. Where such work is unavoidable, necessary work arrangements and appropriate safety measures must be put in place to protect employees.
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