“Armed with Cool Sleeves, Let's Secure Water, Shade, and Rest”... Busan Northern Employment and Labor Ministry Holds Heat Illness Prevention Campaign at Construction Sites

As the heatwave intensifies, an on-site safety campaign to prevent heat-related illnesses among construction workers was held in Gangseo-gu, Busan.

The Busan Northern Branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (headed by Min Gwangje) visited the main construction site cafeterias in Eco Delta City, Gangseo-gu, Busan, at 11:00 a.m. on June 18 to conduct the "Summer Heat-Related Illness Prevention and Safety Culture Promotion Campaign."

Heatwave Preparedness and Heat-Related Illness Prevention Campaign.

This campaign was organized to raise safety awareness among construction workers and to strengthen their ability to respond to heatwaves. The campaign focused on three main activities: disseminating the five key rules for preventing heat-related illnesses, distributing cooling functional protective gear (cool sleeves and neck covers), and providing on-site safety education. In particular, the campaign actively promoted employers' obligations to protect workers' health during heatwaves, in accordance with the amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act that took effect in June 2025.

According to the revised legislation, employers must strictly comply with the "five key rules for preventing heat-related illnesses" (water, shade, rest, cooling equipment, and emergency measures) to prevent health issues such as heatstroke or exhaustion caused by heatwaves. Employers are also required to establish and implement step-by-step response plans in accordance with the "Heat-Related Illness Prevention Guide."

Min Gwangje, head of the branch, emphasized, "At construction sites where a lot of outdoor work takes place, thorough preventive measures are essential to ensure that workers are not exposed to heatwaves for extended periods. In particular, for elderly workers or those in vulnerable health groups, it is necessary to monitor their health status in real time and establish an immediate emergency response system."

The Busan Northern Branch plans to continue intensive on-site inspections and campaigns targeting numerous local construction sites and manufacturing companies during the summer heatwave period (June to September).