DSAL urges heatstroke prevention as summer intensifies

[Photo: Ricaela Diputado]

The Labor Affairs Bureau (DSAL) is ramping up efforts to protect outdoor workers as Macau faces increasingly extreme summer heat, urging contractors and employers to implement preventive measures against heatstroke and heat-related illnesses.

The topic was explored in detail during the latest TDM Forum, which focused on occupational safety amid extreme weather conditions.

Chui Ka Shing, head of the promotion and training division at DSAL’s occupational safety and health department, revealed that the bureau conducted 495 inspections of construction sites and building projects across the city in June alone.

These inspections are part of a broader campaign that includes heatstroke prevention workshops and targeted monitoring of hazards associated with high-temperature outdoor work.

To enhance frontline worker protection, the bureau has launched several initiatives, including a “cooling vest” scheme introduced this year, alongside existing programs providing heat-resistant clothing, sun-protective hat covers, and portable waist-mounted fans. These measures aim to improve personal protection and cooling efficiency for outdoor workers.

During the program, Leong Pou U, vice president of the Macau Federation of Trade Unions (MFTU), called on the government to establish clearer and more specific guidelines for working under extreme heat conditions.

He suggested referring to standards set by mainland China and Hong Kong, which provide detailed regulations on temperature thresholds and working-hour limitations.

Lee Keng Ieong, executive director of the Macao Association of Building Contractors and Developers, noted that most workplace incidents are not caused by inadequate safety measures or equipment.

Instead, he pointed to short-term mainland Chinese workers who are not yet acclimatized to Macau’s humid subtropical climate and tend to underestimate the risks. The association has responded with targeted training programs and updated guidelines to remind workers of weather-related dangers.

Industry safety standards have been steadily improving, Lee added, with construction sites now providing shade and reducing workers’ exposure to direct sunlight. However, officials and industry representatives agree that continued vigilance and stronger regulatory frameworks are essential to ensure worker safety as temperatures continue to rise.