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With temperatures dropping significantly across the city this morning, the Labour Department (LD) issued a "Health Guide for Working during Cold Weather" notice yesterday (Jan 5).
While many HR professionals view these as "friendly reminders," under the 2026 Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) regulations, ignoring weather warnings can be classified as "negligence" if a worker falls ill.
Three High-Risk Groups:
- Outdoor Workers: Construction workers and road maintenance crews.
- Mobile Workers: Couriers and food delivery riders.
- Exposed Positions: Car park attendants and security guards at estate entrances.
HR Immediate Action Checklist:
- 1. Uniform Policy Check: If you have security staff standing guard in thin suit jackets, please immediately authorize them to wear company-provided windbreakers or their own dark-colored heavy coats. Rigid uniform policies during extreme weather are a primary source of PR disasters on social media.
- 2. Provision of "Warmth Essentials": For site-based staff, supervisors should provide access to hot potable water starting today. This is a standard requirement in the Occupational Safety and Health Council's guidelines to help maintain core body temperatures.
- 3. Flexible Warm-up Breaks: When temperatures drop below 12°C, allow outdoor staff a 10-minute "warm-up break" for every 2 hours of work. This reduces the risk of hypothermia and improves overall focus and safety.
💡 Don't wait for an employee to fall ill before reacting. Send a WhatsApp to your frontline managers today: "It's cold out—take care of the team." A single message can significantly boost team morale and loyalty.