From Work Exclusion and Suspension Rights to Godeureum Shelter
Intense Efforts to Strengthen Safety at Heat-Vulnerable Construction Sites
As the daytime perceived temperature approaches 40 degrees Celsius due to the heatwave, construction companies are stepping up efforts to recruit workers. They are focusing on strengthening safety at construction sites through various measures, from guaranteeing workers' right to stop work when suffering from heat-related illnesses to operating icicle rest shelters filled with cool beverages.
HDC Hyundai Development Company is focusing on preventing heat-related illnesses among on-site workers by installing "open-type icicle rest areas" equipped with cooling facilities, freezers, and beverages at all sites.
According to the construction industry on the 5th, HDC Hyundai Development Company is conducting the 'HDC Icicle Campaign' to prevent safety accidents caused by heat-related illnesses among workers. This program actively provides the three major rules for heatwave prevention?water, shade, and rest?to protect the health of outdoor workers, offering safe and comfortable rest facilities. All workers can freely use the icicle rest shelters equipped with ice makers, air conditioners, and freezers. Ice vests are also provided to outdoor workers. In particular, a dedicated heatwave management staff member called the 'Iceman' is thoroughly managing the site.
Lotte Construction Vice Chairman Park Hyun-chul (second from the left in the front row) is distributing summer heat supplies and conducting heat illness prevention activities for on-site workers.
Lotte Construction has designated the period from June to September as a special heatwave management period. They distribute heat illness prevention guides at each site to check compliance with the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s three key points (water, shade, rest). Especially when a heatwave warning is issued, workers are notified via text messages and speakers to avoid outdoor work and take appropriate breaks, adjusting working hours to guarantee the right to stop work. Additionally, workers are provided with coolers, and water supply facilities and ice makers are installed to ensure they can drink cool water even at the worksite.
On the 3rd, Park Hyun-chul, Vice Chairman, who conducted a safety inspection at a residential-commercial complex site in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, said, “It is important to create an environment where workers’ rest is guaranteed so they can work healthily,” and added, “Please pay attention to ensuring rest areas, providing cooling equipment, and maintaining rest times.”
Hyundai Construction guarantees the right to stop work. If a worker feels unwell due to the heat and requests to be excused from work, they are immediately excluded from work and compensated for the lost wages for the remaining working hours of the day. This system applies to all site workers, including daily workers affiliated with subcontractors. Even when exercising the right to stop work, workers are protected from any personnel disadvantages.
Hanwha Corporation’s construction division also conducted a ‘CEO-led heatwave preparedness site inspection’ to prevent heat-related illnesses at construction sites. On the 3rd, CEO Kim Seung-mo and Chief Safety Officer (CSO) Ko Kang-seok visited the Incheon Airport Terminal 2 expansion site to check the provision of the three basic heatstroke prevention rules?water, shade, and rest?and encouraged the site workers. They carefully inspected air conditioners, water purification facilities, salt supplies, rest chairs, and temperature and humidity meters, and instructed thorough heatwave preparedness at all construction sites. They also participated in the ‘Visiting Patbingsu Snack Truck’ event, providing patbingsu to site workers, engaging in emotional safety activities.
Daewoo Construction is also implementing the ‘Healthy Summer 3355 Campaign’ from June to September, aligned with heatwave advisories and warnings. They emphasize water, shade, and rest to prevent heat-related illnesses and minimize outdoor work during heatwave warnings while continuously monitoring the health status of workers and their colleagues.
Bando Construction held a food truck event offering cup bingsu, donuts, watermelon punch smoothies, madeleines, and more to help on-site workers briefly forget the heat.
Bando Construction, which has recorded zero serious accidents for five consecutive years since 2019, had CEO Lee Jung-ryeol of the Construction Division personally tour nationwide sites for about a month to conduct ‘comprehensive site safety inspections.’ Bando Construction provides outdoor workers with heatwave prevention supplies such as ice vests, ice packs, and sunshades, and is fully committed to heat illness and safety management by securing additional shade and rest areas where workers can escape the heat. Ice makers and ice water are increasingly placed throughout the sites, and watermelon and ice cream are frequently provided to support the health management of site workers.
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