Minister Kim Orders Strengthened Response to Heatwave Accidents at Workplaces Nationwide

Strengthened Operation of the "Special Task Force for Heatwave Safety"

Minister of Employment and Labor Younghoon Kim issued an urgent directive on August 2, in response to the activation of Level 2 operations by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCHQ) amid record-breaking heatwaves, ordering the strengthening of heatwave and asphyxiation accident response measures at workplaces nationwide.

Kim Young-hoon, Minister of Employment and Labor, made an unannounced visit to a parcel logistics center located in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on the afternoon of July 31 to inspect the implementation status of the "Five Basic Heatwave Safety Rules."

Minister Kim first called for the strengthening of operations for the "Special Task Force for Heatwave Safety," which includes the Ministry of Employment and Labor headquarters, local branches, affiliated organizations, and private accident prevention agencies. He also instructed the rapid dissemination of heatwave information using the major accident siren system.

He further directed the heads of each organization to supervise and inspect the thorough enforcement of both the "Five Basic Safety Rules for Heatwaves" and the "Work Suspension Guidelines by Heatwave Stage" at vulnerable workplaces in each region. The five basic safety rules for heatwaves are: ① providing cool water, ② operating cooling systems, ③ taking at least 20-minute breaks every two hours, ④ providing cold storage gear, and ⑤ calling 119 in case of emergency.

According to the heatwave stage-specific work suspension guidelines, all outdoor work except for emergency response tasks must be suspended when the perceived temperature reaches 38 degrees Celsius or higher, or when a severe heatwave warning is issued. Minister Kim emphasized the need to focus inspections on whether these guidelines and worker protection measures are being followed, especially at high-risk workplaces such as logistics centers and construction sites.

In addition, he recommended that all local governments nationwide suspend work in confined spaces, except for emergency response tasks. He also instructed local labor offices to strengthen supervision and inspection of work conducted in confined spaces with a high risk of asphyxiation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.