Sixfold Increase in Heat-Related Illnesses Since May [Workers in Crisis] ②

Warning Signs Amid Early Heat
Many Outdoor and Manual Laborers Affected
Authorities Have Only Issued Ineffective Recommendations So Far

In May alone, the number of heat-related illness patients increased sixfold compared to five years ago. Most cases involved people exposed to high temperatures while working outdoors for extended periods, with the largest number of cases among manual laborers. The government has introduced a mandatory rest policy requiring workers to take at least a 20-minute break every two hours during heat waves.

◆Already 9 Suspected Deaths from Heat-Related Illnesses

According to data submitted to Nam Insoon, a member of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the number of heat-related illness cases in May and June this year was 64 and 409, respectively. This represents a 5.8-fold and 1.8-fold increase compared to five years ago. By type of illness, heat exhaustion accounted for more than half at 52.0%, followed by heat stroke (20.7%), heat cramps (13.5%), heat syncope (12.6%), and others (1.0%). The number of cases has increased as this year’s rainy season ended unusually early and heat waves have continued nationwide.

Since modern meteorological observation began in 1907, this July has been the hottest on record, resulting in a sharp rise in the number of patients visiting emergency rooms for heat-related illnesses. As of July 12, the cumulative number of heat-related illness cases was 1,523. Of these, 77.3% were men, and seniors aged 65 or older accounted for 34.0% of the total. By location, most cases occurred outdoors (79.8%), such as at worksites (29.0%) and in fields (13.5%). The annual number of heat-related illness cases was 1,078 in 2020, 1,376 in 2021, 1,564 in 2022, 2,818 in 2023, and 3,704 in 2024.

Heat-related illnesses are acute conditions caused by heat. Prolonged exposure to hot environments can lead to symptoms such as headache, dizziness, muscle cramps, fatigue, and impaired consciousness, and if left untreated, these conditions can be life-threatening. This summer alone, nine people have died in accidents suspected to be caused by heat-related illnesses. In 2018, when the worst heat wave occurred, 48 people died, and in 2023 and last year, 32 and 34 people, respectively, lost their lives.

According to a 2021 study by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the risk of injury is 6?9% higher on days when the temperature exceeds 32.2 degrees Celsius compared to days when it is between 10 and 15 degrees. When the temperature rises above 37.8 degrees, the risk increases by 10?15%. While this may seem obvious for people working outdoors, the risk of indoor injuries also increases by about 7% when the temperature exceeds 35 degrees.

◆Belated Introduction of Mandatory Rest Provisions

On July 11, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that the amendment to the 'Rules on Occupational Safety and Health Standards' had passed the Regulatory Reform Committee's review. The main provision is that when the perceived temperature is 33 degrees Celsius or higher, workers must be given at least a 20-minute break every two hours. The ministry plans to complete the follow-up procedures this week and officially promulgate and implement the amended rules.

Previously, during regulatory reviews in April and May, the Regulatory Reform Committee pointed out that the provision requiring at least a 20-minute break every two hours during heat wave work could be a burden for small and micro businesses. However, as heat waves continued and serious accidents, including deaths, occurred, the Ministry of Employment and Labor requested a re-examination.

Until now, the ministry had only recommended the five basic safety rules for heat waves to each workplace. The basic rules are: ▲providing water, ▲installing fans or shade and adjusting work hours, ▲installing rest facilities and providing breaks, ▲providing personal cooling gear, and ▲calling 119 for emergency response?measures to prevent heat-related illnesses. The ministry emphasized that providing breaks is a basic responsibility of employers among the five rules, but criticism has persisted that the lack of legal obligation has made the policy ineffective.