Kim Young-hoon, the Minister of Employment and Labor, has directed the strengthening of safety management in industrial sites to prevent heat-related workplace accidents.
On August 2, at 1 p.m., the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) raised its heat wave alert to Level 2. In response, the Ministry announced it would enhance the operation of a 'Heat Safety Special Task Force' involving the headquarters, local offices, the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, and private disaster prevention organizations.
Minister Kim instructed that information about the heat wave situation be rapidly disseminated through the major disaster sirens. He emphasized the need for strict enforcement of the 'Five Basic Safety Rules for Heat Waves' and the work stoppage criteria based on heat wave levels at vulnerable workplaces across regions.
As a result, local offices will expand on-site inspections of vulnerable workplaces, ensuring that information regarding heat advisories and major alerts is quickly communicated. The government plans to focus on verifying that the work management standards appropriate for the heat wave levels are properly implemented on-site.
Specific work guidelines for different heat wave levels have also been established. During a heat advisory, when the perceived temperature exceeds 33 degrees Celsius, adjustments to work hours or reductions in outdoor work time are recommended. In the case of a heat warning, with temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius, outdoor work is advised to be halted from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. If a major heat warning is issued, indicating a perceived temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher, all outdoor work, except for emergency measures, is strongly recommended to be suspended.
The Ministry will particularly focus on inspecting compliance with protective measures for workers at high-risk sites, such as construction sites and logistics centers. They will closely monitor whether work stoppages during peak heat hours, adjustments to work hours, and adequate rest breaks are being implemented effectively.
Additionally, measures to prevent suffocation incidents in confined spaces due to the heat will be intensified. As temperatures rise, harmful gas concentrations, such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, can increase rapidly in facilities like wastewater treatment plants, sewer systems, septic tanks, and storage containers. The Ministry will recommend that local governments halt work in confined spaces, excluding emergency measures, and will enhance on-site guidance and safety inspections.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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