{"id":2206183,"date":"2024-08-16T15:45:23","date_gmt":"2024-08-16T06:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2206183"},"modified":"2024-08-19T15:22:31","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T06:22:31","slug":"south-koreas-outdoor-workers-at-risk-as-heat-waves-intensify","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/08\/south-koreas-outdoor-workers-at-risk-as-heat-waves-intensify\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea\u2019s outdoor workers at risk as heat waves intensify"},"content":{"rendered":"
As global temperatures rise, South Korea\u2019s outdoor workers face increasing health risks due to inadequate protection from the intensifying summer heat. Seoul has recorded 26 consecutive <\/span>tropical nights<\/span><\/a> \u2014 nights when temperatures do not fall below 77\u00b0F (25\u00b0C) \u2014 since July 21, the <\/span>longest<\/span><\/a> streak in the city\u2019s history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With forecasts predicting more scorching weather ahead, experts emphasize the urgent need for the government and legislature to implement proactive measures to safeguard workers. They stress the necessity for stronger regulations, evidence-based recommendations and a cultural shift toward prioritizing workplace safety as climate change intensifies.<\/span><\/p>\n INTENSIFYING HEAT WAVES<\/b><\/p>\n South Korea’s labor ministry issued new measures to address the rising number of heat-related workplace accidents amid the severe heatwave. The government recommended halting outdoor labor when the heat index exceeds 31\u00b0C between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., these <\/span>guidelines<\/span><\/a> remain voluntary.<\/span><\/p>\n A recent <\/span>survey<\/span><\/a> by the National Construction Workers\u2019 Union revealed that 80% of construction workers continue to work during peak heat hours. Only 18.5% of these workers take regular breaks despite heat alerts.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cConstruction workers, who are most likely to be directly exposed to extreme heat during outdoor work, face the risk of death,\u201d Kim Sung-hee, an adjunct professor at Korea University\u2019s Graduate School of Labor Studies told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n For instance, a 31-year-old worker died of heatstroke <\/span>last summer<\/span><\/a> while organizing shopping carts in a supermarket\u2019s basement parking lot. He reportedly worked 10-hour shifts with a 15-minute break every three hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n