FEHD Mandates Heat Stroke Prevention Plans in All Outdoor Work Tenders
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago3 MIN
Summary
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has implemented stringent requirements mandating that all bidders for public cleaning service contracts must include certified heat stroke prevention plans in their tenders. FEHD Assistant Director (Operations) Poon Bing-young emphasized that contractors must prioritize worker safety over rigid adherence to warning levels, noting that individual health conditions vary. The department conducted extensive citywide inspections during the summer months, with the "Service Enhancement Optimization Team" actively monitoring contractor compliance.
Key Points
- All bidders for FEHD public cleaning service contracts must submit a "Heat Prevention Work Plan" certified by a registered safety officer; tenders without this documentation will not be considered
- FEHD conducted citywide special heat prevention inspections in July and August 2026, holding approximately 400 heat prevention briefings for outdoor workers
- The department issued 419 written warnings or breach notices to contractors in the first eight months of 2026, including 14 breach notices and 15 warning letters
- Contractors accumulating 3 penalty points within 36 months will be barred from bidding for all government non-technical service contracts for 5 years
- FEHD has installed approximately 190 solar-powered rest stations equipped with cooling fans, with an additional 30 locations receiving solar power facilities
- Approximately 7,200 outsourced street cleaning workers are covered under these measures, serving across refuse collection and public toilet cleaning
- Five off-street refuse collection depots feature air-conditioned rest rooms with tea rooms, changing rooms, and shower facilities
- FEHD collaborated with the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel to develop new raincoats with high-visibility reflective strips for worker safety
- The "Service Enhancement Optimization Team" conducted on-site inspections and held over 100 briefings on proper raincoat and windbreaker usage
Why It Matters
These measures establish a new benchmark for protecting outsourced workers in Hong Kong's public services sector, with enforceable consequences for non-compliant contractors. The high volume of violations detected during inspections highlights systemic issues in contractor oversight that the government is now addressing through stricter monitoring and penalty mechanisms, potentially reshaping how government services are delivered through outsourcing arrangements .
These measures establish a new benchmark for protecting outsourced workers in Hong Kong's public services sector, with enforceable consequences for non-compliant contractors. The high volume of violations detected during inspections highlights systemic issues in contractor oversight that the government is now addressing through stricter monitoring and penalty mechanisms, potentially reshaping how government services are delivered through outsourcing arrangements .