News

New safety video "Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility" has been released!

Call for Nominations - The 16th Hong Kong Outstanding OSH Employee Award Scheme

******** The following message has been disseminated to Unit Heads (with copies to DHSOs). Nominations must be made to HSO through units; please approach your unit and the responsible DHSO for details. ******** To:        Deans/ Directors/ Heads of Departments/ Units c.c.:      DHSOs From:   Director of Health and Safety Date:    5 March 2024 Dear Colleagues, We are now seeking nomination of candidates for the 16th Hong Kong Outstanding OSH Employee Award (第十六屆全港傑出職安健員工嘉許計劃). The Award is jointly organized by the Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC), the Labour Department (LD), LegCo members (Functional Constituency - Labour), and employee representatives of the Labour Advisory Board to recognize HK employees with outstanding achievements in making their workplace safer and healthier.  It is categorized into three groups: Frontline staff Staff at supervisory level Staff at managerial level Each group has Gold, Silver, Bronze and Merit awards. More details can be found at OSHC website. If you find any staff member of your department has outstanding OSH achievements, please do not hesitate to nominate him/her by completing the nomination form (which has been sent to unit heads and DHSOs) and return it to Miss Cindy Sung on or before 13 March 2024 (Wednesday).  Our office will then help follow up with the submission of entry. Should you have any queries, feel free to contact Cindy (email: cindy-ky.sung@polyu.edu.hk/ tel.: 3400-8404). Thank you very much for your support. Chris Leung Director of Health and Safety

Construction Safety Alert - Recent Serious Accidents (6 February 2024)

Construction Safety Alert on Recent Serious Accidents (6 February 2024) has been issued.

Construction Safety Reminder (2024-01) - 10 Safety Checks for Lunar New Year 2024

Construction Safety Reminder (CSR 2024-01) about "10 Safety Checks for Lunar New Year 2024" has been issued. 

Health and Safety Alert 023 - Work-Above-Ground Safety of Campus Events

Health and Safety Alert (HSA/023) on "Work-Above-Ground Safety of Campus Events" has been issued. 

HSO Training Schedule for 2024

The training schedule for 2024 has been released. All staff and students are encouraged to participate in the trainings.

Gentle Reminder on No Smoking on Campus

Dear Staff and Students,   We would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone about the University's strict no smoking policy on campus.   As a community committed to promoting a healthy and clean environment, it is essential that we all adhere to this policy for the well-being of everyone on campus.   Regards, Health & Safety Office

Special Reminder on Safety Precautionary Measures for Super Typhoon Saola

Dear All Staff & Students,   According to the weather forecast by the Hong Kong Observatory in the morning of 31 August 2023, Super Typhoon Saola will move along the coast of eastern Guangdong slowly and edge close to Hong Kong in the next few days.  Winds will strengthen further and there will be frequent heavy squally showers and storm surge over the coast of Guangdong.  Wind force 10, and up to force 12 offshore and on high ground are expected on 1 & 2 September 2023.   In view of its moving speed and intensity, Saola is predicted to bring greater impacts with longer duration to Hong Kong than other tropical cyclones.  As such, we would like to remind everyone to take extra safety precautionary measures.  Please continue to take note of the latest weather forecast and follow the safety measures advised by the Government, and stay vigilant in this period.   While CDO and CFSO have been working hard with their contractors for securing the safety of their work sites and our campus, we would like to remind laboratory personnel to take the following precautionary measures before leaving the laboratory area: All gas cylinders and gas lines have been shut off and secured No experiments left unattended Sashes of fume cupboards have been closed completely Adequate supply of back-up power, gas(es) and water to critical equipment to avoid interruption Non-essential equipment has been switched off and unplugged, if possible Doors are locked to prevent unauthorized entry to laboratory area Thank you for your attention.   Health & Safety Office

Establishment of COVID-19 Rapid Response Taskforce (CRRT)

Establishment of COVID-19 Rapid Response Taskforce (CRRT)     In order to effectively monitor the development of the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for and effects on PolyU’s activities, the University has established the COVID-19 Rapid Response Taskforce (CRRT) in January 2022.    Chaired by Prof. K. Y. Wong, VP(EDU), CRRT has the terms of reference as follows:  To monitor the development of the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for and effects on PolyU’s activities.  To formulate and recommend to the President response strategies and actions to mitigate these effects.  To advise individual departments on the establishment and implementation of response plans.  To communicate with the PolyU community, the Government and external bodies on all related issues.  All related information and subsequent announcements of the CRRT will be posted on PolyU intranet and PolyU COVID-19 InfoHub (https://www.polyu.edu.hk/combatcovid19/info-hub-for-the-public/).     Health and Safety Office 

Updated information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccines - 11 February 2022

Dear Staff and Students, We would like to share the following message from Department of Health about Updated information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccines. Health and Safety Office   Dear Sir/Madam, Updated information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccines   1. Government tightens social distancing measures in view of changes in epidemic situation The Government announced the gazettal of legislative amendments under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), and the tightening of social distancing measures to take effect from February 10 till February 23. For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/09/P2022020900022.htm   2. Special work arrangements for government employees to be extended As the local epidemic situation remains severe, it is necessary for the Government to continue to take measures to significantly reduce the flow of people and social contacts in the community so as to curb further spreading of the virus. A Government spokesman announced that the special work arrangements for government employees will be extended until February 18. Save for those involved in the provision of emergency services and essential public services and in anti-epidemic efforts, all other government employees will be arranged to continue to work from home as far as possible. The Government will closely monitor the epidemic situation and review the arrangements before February 18. The spokesman appeals to employers again to allow their staff members to work from home as far as possible so as to reduce the flow of people and social contact in the community. For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/10/P2022020900472.htm   3. "StayHomeSafe" Scheme launched The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said in view of the serious epidemic situation, in order to curb the spread of COVID-19, safeguard people's health and protect the healthcare system from collapse, the Government launched the "StayHomeSafe" Scheme. The CHP has started to arrange close contacts and household contacts of close contacts who are deemed appropriate after assessment to undergo home quarantine for 14 days and four days respectively. For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/08/P2022020800726.htm   4. "Vaccine pass" extended to cover new RCHE and RCHD residents from March 14 The Government announced earlier that the "vaccine pass" arrangement will be extended to cover all persons to be newly admitted to the residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) and the residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) for long-term abode. The Social Welfare Department (SWD) said that the relevant arrangement will be implemented in all RCHEs and RCHDs from March 14. For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/04/P2022020400589.htm   5. 49th round of compulsory testing for staff members of RCHEs, RCHDs and nursing homes to commence shortly The Government announced that the 49th round of compulsory testing for staff members of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) and nursing homes will commence shortly. For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/05/P2022020400607.htm   More information on COVID-19 vaccines: www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/   We would like to solicit your support to disseminate the information to your colleagues, work associates and/or business partners so that they could adopt proper preventive measures. Thank you very much for your support.   Department of Health   ****************************************** 敬啟者： 2019冠狀病毒病及疫苗的最新資訊   1. 政府因應疫情變化收緊社交距離措施 政府公布，就《預防及控制疾病條例》（第599章）下的法例修訂刊憲，並收緊一系列社交距離措施，生效期間為二月十日至二月二十三日。 詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/09/P2022020800738.htm   2. 政府延長僱員特別上班安排 因應本地疫情仍然非常嚴峻，政府有需要繼續採取措施，大幅減少社區的人流和社交接觸，阻止病毒在社區海嘯式傳播。政府發言人宣布，政府僱員特別上班安排將會延長至二月十八日，除了提供緊急和必須公共服務和參與防疫有關的人員外，其他政府僱員盡量繼續留在家中工作。政府會密切監察疫情的發展，二月十八日前再檢視情況。 發言人再次呼籲僱主盡量讓員工在家工作，以減少社區人流和社交接觸。 詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/10/P2022020900467.htm   3. 政府推行「居安抗疫」計劃 衞生署衞生防護中心表示，現時新冠疫情非常嚴峻，為盡快遏止病毒擴散，保障市民健康，避免拖垮醫療系統，政府推行「居安抗疫」計劃。中心安排經評估為合適的密切接觸者和密切接觸者的同住家人進行為期分別14天和四天的家居檢疫。 詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/08/P2022020800724.htm   4. 「疫苗通行證」三月十四日起擴展至新入住安老院及殘疾人士院舍住客 政府宣布決定將「疫苗通行證」擴展至涵蓋所有新入住安老院及殘疾人士院舍作長期住宿的住客，社會福利署（社署）表示，所有安老院及殘疾人士院舍將於三月十四日開始實施有關安排。 詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/04/P2022020400584.htm   5. 第四十九輪安老院、殘疾人士院舍及護養院員工強制檢測即將展開 政府宣布，第四十九輪安老院、殘疾人士院舍及護養院員工強制檢測即將展開。 詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/05/P2022020400614.htm   更多新冠疫苗資訊： www.covidvaccine.gov.hk   希望你可以將有關資訊與你的同事、合作者及／或業務伙伴分享，讓他們都能採取合適的預防措施。非常感謝你的支持。   衞生署