"Soaked in Sweat Under the Scorching Sun"... Workers Struggle to Escape the Heat

At 2 p.m. on the 3rd, when midday temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius and the sun was beating down, a construction site was bustling with activity. Lee Changshik (53), a worker, took off his helmet, which was lined with a towel to absorb sweat, and sat under a tree wiping his brow. He said, "When it's 30 degrees, it actually feels like 37 to 38 degrees. Especially when working on the slab, the sunlight reflects off the rebar and the heat rises, making it even hotter." Although he works with a waterproof towel around his neck, it quickly becomes soaked with sweat. Lee added, "There is a set deadline for the work, so I have a daily quota to meet, and I feel pressured not to fall behind, which makes it hard to take breaks. I sweat a lot and my throat gets parched."

Im Hyegun (68), who manages landscaping in front of a downtown hotel, was also operating a weed trimmer, drenched in sweat. He said, "If I work for nine hours a day in the summer, I lose two to three kilograms just from sweating. Sometimes, the heat from the weed trimmer is so intense that I see stars in front of my eyes." Im explained, "Since the deadline is not unlimited, I push myself to meet the daily quota despite the heat, often working until I'm on the verge of collapsing. I endure it with a sense of responsibility, thinking of landscaping as an art and striving to shape the trees into beautiful round forms."

Kim Hongsu (56), who works for a demolition company, was also soaked with sweat as the discomfort index soared. Kim said, "I remove and transport interior waste materials, and I'm drenched in sweat from wearing long sleeves and a mask. I get by by drinking beverages with five or six colleagues in the shade next to a building or in the parking lot." Kim Chanul (29) also felt his strength draining as he moved materials. He said, "In a humid basement with no air conditioning, just taking a few steps made my body unresponsive and I had trouble breathing for the first time. I had to cool off in front of a fan after moving each piece of drywall."

A worker at a construction site on the afternoon of the 3rd. Photo by Lee Eunseo

With the onset of scorching heat exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, outdoor workers are struggling every day.

According to the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, the number of occupational accident claims for heat-related illnesses steadily increased from 14 cases in 2020, to 23 in 2021, 28 in 2022, and 37 in 2023, reaching 57 cases last year. From 2020 to April this year, there have been 145 cases of heat-related occupational accidents approved, 46% of which occurred in the construction industry. Among the approved cases, 17 resulted in fatalities, all of which happened at outdoor worksites.

In fact, the outdoor sites visited firsthand were scenes of an ongoing battle with the heat. Jo Junwoo (56), who installs fences at road and railway sites under the blazing sun in civil engineering projects weighing tens of kilograms, said, "Unlike building construction sites where the framework provides shade, there is no shade at civil engineering sites where roads are paved. The site is about 10 kilometers wide, making it difficult to move easily to a cooling shelter." He added, "Since we have to work in pairs, it's hard for one person to take a break alone. To meet the completion date set for December 31, some people ignore the rest guidelines and overexert themselves, prioritizing productivity over safety."

Safety rules are sometimes compromised due to the heat. Oh Jaemin (70), a construction site supervisor, said, "I instruct workers to wear masks, but on hot days, many don't because sweat builds up inside. When cutting concrete walls, the dust sticks to safety goggles because of the sweat, making it hard to see."

Workers are working at a construction site in Jangwi-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where the heatwave continues day after day on the 8th. Photo by Jo Yongjun

The government specified heatwaves and cold spells as health hazards for workers and prepared amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act last year, requiring employers to actively protect workers. These amendments have been in effect since the beginning of this month. However, the Regulatory Reform Committee recommended a review of the revised rules on occupational safety and health standards, particularly the clause requiring at least 20 minutes of rest within two hours when the perceived temperature exceeds 33 degrees Celsius, delaying the implementation of these rules.

Although response measures have been established according to heatwave advisories and warnings, the criteria are based on the Korea Meteorological Administration's perceived temperature, which does not reflect the actual perceived temperature of workers at the site. Choi Eunhee, a professor at Eulji University, said, "If the workload is factored in, the perceived temperature is even higher, but it is difficult to establish realistic standards that reflect the actual conditions at worksites. There needs to be a discussion on setting standards that consider both the meteorological agency's perceived temperature and the workload at the site." She added, "There has been no discussion on the implementation stage or methods regarding the right to stop work during heatwaves, which is the most important issue. It is necessary to strengthen education for workers to recognize symptoms caused by heatwaves and take breaks, and to foster a social awareness that deadlines should be extended when there is a heatwave."