Hong Kong construction safety: Calls for better first aid and heat stress protections

Labor unions and industry representatives in Hong Kong are calling for urgent updates to safety regulations in the construction sector. Concerns have been raised that current first aid requirements are outdated, providing only basic household-level supplies that are insufficient for treating severe injuries such as heavy bleeding or open wounds.

Union leaders suggest that high-risk or remote construction sites should be required to employ full-time first aiders rather than relying on safety officers to perform dual roles. There are also calls for legislation to mandate the presence of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) on sites to combat sudden cardiac deaths. To manage rising heatstroke risks, industry experts have proposed using smartwatches to monitor workers' vital signs.

In relation to extreme weather, Executive Council member Lam Ching-choi has advocated for more sensitive heat stress warning mechanisms. He suggested adopting the black globe temperature index to better reflect the actual heat stress experienced by outdoor workers and urged the Labour Department to develop specialized guidelines tailored to different occupations and environments.