Article No.
Provisions
11
Comments
15
16
17
Suitable facilities for changing, leaving and drying clothing which is not worn at work shall be provided and properly maintained.
Underground or windowless premises in which work is normally performed shall comply with appropriate standards of hygiene.
Workers shall be protected by appropriate and practicable measures against substances, processes and techniques which are obnoxious, unhealthy or toxic or for any reason harmful. Where the nature of the work so requires, the competent authority shall prescribe personal protective equipment.
There is no legislation giving effect to the require- ment and proper maintenance of suitable facilities for changing, leaving and drying clothing which is not worn at work. This is likely to cause some difficulty in parti- cular to small offices and shops. The premises of small shops and offices are often fully utilized for economic objectives, and the provision of separate changing rooms is not practicable, and changing of clothing is often done in latrines instead. It may perhaps be possible to exempt small businesses from this provision.
There is no legislation governing commercial or office. premises occupying underground or windowless premises. There is no available information on this type of opera- tions in Hong Kong, in particular in old buildings, but the number of such operations is believed to be relatively small. It is not practicable to make a separate set of standards with regard to these operations as the standards would be generally unenforceable, particular in respect of operations in old buildings.
There are no legislative or administrative measures applying the provisions of this article in trading esta- blishments, institutions, administrative services or departments covered by this convention. However, in Hong Kong there are no obnoxious or toxic processes legally being carried on in establishments other than industrial undertakings. Under regulation 35 of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Regulations, in every registrable workplace, in connexion with any process or work carried on, if there is given off any dust or fume or other impurity of such a character and to such extent as to be likely to be injurious or offensive to the persons employed, or any sub- stantial quantity of dust of any kind, all practicable measures shall be taken to protect the persons employed therein against inhalation of the dust or fume or other impurity and to prevent its accumulation in any workroom.