Kim Gyuseok, Head of Daegu Labor Office, Urges "Suspension of Outdoor Work During Heatwave Hours Under Heatwave Warnings"

Inspection of Construction Sites and Distribution Companies

Kim Gyuseok, head of the Daegu Regional Employment and Labor Office, visited construction sites and distribution companies vulnerable to heatwaves on the 3rd to inspect on-site response measures for the prevention of heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke.

On that day, Director Kim visited construction sites in Jung-gu, Daegu, which are vulnerable to heatwaves, and distribution companies in Dong-gu, Daegu, to directly check the implementation status of heat illness prevention guidelines and the health management conditions of workers.

Employees of the Daegu Regional Labor Office are inspecting workplaces to ensure that heat illness prevention guidelines are being properly followed in preparation for the heatwave.

During the on-site inspection, Director Kim confirmed whether the basic three rules for preventing heat-related illnesses?‘water-shade(rest)-rest’?were being followed, and urged that work hours and rest periods be appropriately allocated according to the heatwave stage to protect workers' health. Outdoor workplaces must adhere to the water-shade-rest rule, while indoor workplaces should follow water-ventilation-rest, and rest periods of 10 to 15 minutes per hour should be provided depending on the heatwave level.

The Daegu Regional Employment and Labor Office plans to raise the response level to the highest stage throughout August, when the heatwave is expected to be most severe, and mobilize all staff to check the implementation of the basic three rules at heatwave-vulnerable workplaces (construction sites, building management, waste collection, delivery and transportation, etc.). In addition, they will actively guide the establishment and enforcement of heat illness prevention rules on-site by collaborating with the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency and private specialized institutions.

Kim Gyuseok, head of the Daegu Regional Employment and Labor Office, emphasized, “Heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke can be prevented by properly following the basic three rules of ‘water-shade(ventilation)-rest.’” He urged, “During heatwave warnings, outdoor work should be suspended for three hours from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., the hottest time of the day. Especially when there is an urgent risk of heat-related illness, employers must actively fulfill their obligation to stop work according to Article 51 of the Industrial Safety and Health Act. Please make every effort to protect workers’ health against heatwaves.”