Hong Kong needs clearer framework for handling high heat on work sites

Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words.Public debate over Hong Kong’s recent heatwave has rightly focused on protecting frontline workers. However, one group remains largely absent from the discussion: site managers and project supervisors who carry responsibility for worker safety, project delivery and contractual compliance. Increasingly, they are being asked to balance those obligations without a clear framework.Recent criticism of Hong Kong’s Heat Stress at Work Warning system has focused on whether the Hong Kong Heat Index adequately reflects conditions faced by outdoor workers exposed to direct sunlight. Three former directors of the Hong Kong Observatory have argued that the internationally recognised Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) might be more suitable for assessing heat risks at open-air worksites.