The Labour Department (LD) published a revised Code of Practice for Safety and Health at Work in Confined Spaces (CoP) in the Gazette on May 31 to enhance the safety and health at work in confined spaces.

The major revisions of the CoP include the enhancement of requirements for proprietor’s or contractor’s supervision on confined space work; highlighting the factors for assessing whether a particular job constitutes underground pipework; adding a detailed template of risk assessment form and listing out the setting of air monitoring alarm; and the update on the Permit-to-work Certificate template.

The revised CoP requires proprietors or contractors to adopt technology to record videos at the entrance and exit of the confined space throughout the entire work period to monitor relevant personnel's compliance with the safety precautions and to keep the record. Considering the time required for the industry to furnish suitable equipment and make necessary arrangements for implementing all safety precautions, there will be a six-month grace period. It will take effect on November 30 to allow the industry to have sufficient time for preparation.

The revised CoP can be downloaded from the LD website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8b.htm ). Enquiries about the CoP, please contact Occupational Safety and Health of LD at 2559 2297, or you can contact FHKI Secretariat.