[Exclusive] 410 Heatwave Regulation Violations This Year... "Insufficient Resting Facilities" Top the List [Workers in Crisis] ⑪

227 Cases Corrected, 183 Still in Progress
Fines Imposed in 70 Cases, Totaling 76.85 Million Won
Experts Call for Comprehensive Countermeasures

This year, the number of workplaces that violated heatwave safety regulations has exceeded 400. In particular, inadequate resting facilities accounted for one-third of the violations, indicating that even the most basic safety measures were not observed. Until last year, the government only issued recommendations, but starting this summer, it has begun identifying violators, revealing the actual state of safety management.

Minister of Employment and Labor Younghoon Kim made an unannounced visit to the Coupang Dongtan Logistics Center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province on the 30th of last month to inspect the working and resting conditions of the workers. Photo by Yonhap News

According to data received by Assemblywoman Jeong Hyekyung of the Progressive Party from the Ministry of Employment and Labor on August 27, as of August 8, a total of 410 cases of heatwave regulation violations had been detected. By type of violation, insufficient resting facilities topped the list with 141 cases (34.3%). This was followed by 28 cases of inadequate health measures during heatwave work, 21 cases of failure to provide rest, 18 cases related to the provision of thermohygrometers, training, or recording perceived temperature, 13 cases of insufficient shade, and 8 cases of failure to measure perceived temperature.

These findings suggest that not only the installation of resting facilities but also the actual safety of workers must be ensured. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, all workplaces, regardless of type or size, are required to install resting facilities. Failure to provide such facilities can result in a fine of up to 15 million won, while failure to comply with installation and management standards regarding size, location, temperature, and lighting can result in a fine of up to 10 million won.

Regarding corrective actions, of the 410 instructions issued-such as mandating a 20-minute break every two hours during heatwave work at temperatures above 33 degrees Celsius-227 cases have been resolved, while the remaining 183 cases are still in progress. Fines for workplaces with inadequate installation or management of resting facilities were imposed in 70 cases, totaling 76.85 million won. However, the fact that 183 cases are still being addressed highlights the gap between law enforcement and on-site implementation. Even after a system is put in place, it takes time to be fully applied in the field, meaning that some workers may still be exposed to risks until corrective measures are completed.

This year’s heatwave safety inspections were conducted at a total of 1,186 workplaces as of July 29. The number of inspections by year was 2,382 in 2020, 5,625 in 2021, 3,225 in 2022, 4,869 in 2023, and 5,708 in 2024. The number of public officials in charge of inspections, including those in the Industrial Accident Prevention Guidance Division and the Construction Accident Guidance Division, was 722, suggesting that administrative capacity and the scope of inspections should also be taken into consideration going forward.

Since July 17, the Ministry of Employment and Labor has conducted unannounced guidance and inspections at about 4,000 high-risk workplaces to ensure thorough compliance with the revised Industrial Safety and Health Standards. The revision specifies the health measures employers must take to protect the lives and health of workers during heatwaves. On July 25, the Ministry also requested cooperation from 24 central government agencies, including the Korea Forest Service and the Rural Development Administration, as well as 243 metropolitan and local governments, to comply with the "Five Basic Heatwave Safety Rules" and to suspend work when temperatures exceed 35 degrees Celsius. The five basic rules are: provision of cool drinking water, air conditioning, rest (at least 20 minutes every two hours), provision of cooling gear, and calling 119 in emergencies.

Experts agree that a robust heatwave safety system must be established. Choi Eunhee, professor at the Department of Nursing at Eulji University, emphasized, "Proper installation of resting facilities such as shaded areas, as stipulated by relevant laws, can effectively prevent workers' body temperature from rising during heatwaves. Since expanding resting facilities is linked to increased costs for companies, the government needs to provide continuous support."

Lee Jongsun, professor at the Graduate School of Labor Studies at Korea University, stated, "Because each industry-such as construction sites, rural areas, and delivery services-faces different circumstances, tailored manuals and measures are needed rather than uniform standards. As government support can only be provided in a limited way, such as for public sectors or shelters for mobile workers, it is important to analyze the characteristics of each industry, set priorities, and implement comprehensive countermeasures."