Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in NGO Settings: Challenges, Opportunities and Practical Insights

Course Description

Building on local initiatives that promote safer workplaces and work rehabilitation in Hong Kong, occupational safety and health (OSH) has become a vital priority within NGO settings—particularly across elderly homes, community services, and disability programmes. Frontline care operations currently face pressing systemic challenges, including manpower shortages, an ageing workforce, and increasingly complex care needs.

Physiotherapists are uniquely positioned to drive practical solutions to these challenges at both the service and frontline levels. As the local OSH landscape evolves, fellow physiotherapists are expanding their impact by taking on active roles in workplace risk assessment, ergonomic consultation, and injury prevention programmes to protect staff wellbeing.

Therefore, in this seminar, we would like to:

• Highlight the evolving strategic role of physiotherapists in OSH within NGO settings, navigating current systemic challenges and identifying new professional opportunities.
• Share practical applications and structured protocols for essential OSH risk assessments (such as manual handling, falls, and musculoskeletal strain) and discuss effective staff training for frontline carers in elderly services.
• Illustrate the integration of rehabilitation technologies (including assistive lifting devices, portable bathing equipment, and indoor grab handles) to promote client independence while reducing manual handling risks in disability services.

Speakers

Dr. Wilson LAM

Dr. Wilson LAM is an experienced physiotherapist with over 25 years of continuous service in the NGO sector in Hong Kong, working across elderly care, community rehabilitation and disability services. He holds a Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Health from the University of Greenwich, which underpins his strong interest in integrating OSH principles into everyday rehabilitation practice. Throughout his career, Dr Lam has led and supported a range of OSH initiatives in NGO settings, including workplace risk assessments, ergonomic interventions and staff training to prevent work related musculoskeletal injuries. He also plays an active professional role as Vice Chairperson of the HKPA OSHRSG, his current focus includes service development, capacity building and fostering a safety culture among frontline rehabilitation and care staff.

Mr. Hei LAI

Mr. Hei Lai obtained his BSc (Hons) degree in Physiotherapy from PolyU and a Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Health from the University of Greenwich. He possesses over 20 years of extensive experience in elderly care services in both community and residential settings. In addition to delivering direct physiotherapy services to older adults, he is actively involved in conducting regular occupational safety and health risk assessments. His areas of interest include Manual Handling Operations (MHO), heat stress management, and Display Screen Equipment (DSE) assessments. He also provides relevant training to frontline staff to ensure compliance and promote workplace safety. Furthermore, Mr. Lai serves as an assessor for the Residential Aged Care Accreditation Scheme (RACAS), contributing to quality assurance in residential elderly care services.

Mr. Richard WONG

Mr. Richard WONG obtained his BSc (Hons) degree in Physiotherapy from PolyU. After graduation, Richard has practised in the Hospital Authority, gaining valuable experience in ward settings, as well as outpatient and community services. He has also pursued a MSc degree in Musculoskeletal Medicine and Rehabilitation at the CUHK before he served at a local NGO, as the Physiotherapist I and then the Operation Manager of the Home Care Service for Persons with Severe Disabilities (N.T.). Currently, Richard is the Secretary of the OSHRSG, HKPA and also the Physiotherapy Manager of a private company, focusing on residential services of the elderly and community rehabilitation.

Details

• Target: Physiotherapists (particularly those working in Hong Kong NGO settings)
• Capacity: 100 (priority to OSHRSG members)
• Medium: Cantonese with English supplemented
• CPD: 2 points (AC1260036)