HKIE Climate Change Corner
Climate change affects people in the construction sector
The IPCC report considers it more than 90% probable that heat waves will increase in length, frequency and / or intensity. Measures to warn people and improve health surveillance, water supplies, and drainage have been recommended.
Since 1955, the average temperature in Hong Kong has increased +1°C. But +1°C outside means +3-4°C in the construction work site. Moreover, extreme rainfall and hot days have become more frequent, while cold days rarer. This directly impacts people and disease (malnutrition, diarrhea, cardio-respiratory), a complicating factor in Hong Kong is that 65% of workforce is >40 years age.
Construction is a people business. In Hong Kong there are over 300,000 registered workers and the majority of these works outside or in uncompleted structures. For Gammon, climate change is important to our customers, affects our supply chain, and closer to home, our people.
In 2007, our study showed hot weather working leads to lower mental alertness and decreased physical performance. Yet there are yet to be legislative controls to limit exposure and protect workers. Mechanization, modularization and precast have also only seen limited adoption.
Temperature and humidity compound, thus rendering the observatory warning of hot weather at 34°C too late as it may have already be 40°C in the workplace. As engineers and managers who specify and design the work, there is a need to take action and adapt our working methods. This includes understanding the way people and equipment are used, constructing more off-site in controlled conditions, and provisions for worker welfare.
In 10 years, 64% of the workers could be >50 years age and it may be another +1°C warmer. Are your construction designs, methods and instructions ready?
Reference:
“The New Normal”, Climate Change Business Forum
CIC Guidelines on Safe Safety Measures for Working in Hot Weather, June 2008
IPCC Special Report on Managing Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation, Nov 2011
This article is contributed by Miss Shirlee May Algire, Sustainability & CSR Manger of Gammon, with the co-ordination of the Environmental Division.
15 Oct 2013