🚨 Outdoor Workers: Worker Protection and Safety Measures During Heat Waves

Today Korean Social News | 2025.07.09

📌 Outdoor Workers Collapsing from Heat Waves... Calls for Work Stoppage Laws Growing

💬 As heat waves continue day after day, the safety of outdoor workers in construction, delivery, farming, and sewer work is being threatened. Recent deaths of foreign workers from heat-related illnesses have increased criticism that the government's heat wave response guidelines are not working properly at work sites. The government recommends rest and work stoppage during heat waves, but these are often not followed in practice. The National Assembly is discussing defining heat waves as 'weather disasters' and making work stoppage laws based on WBGT index.

Summary

• Outdoor workers are all workers who work outside and are exposed to weather risks like heat waves, cold snaps, and fine dust.
• Recent heat-related illness accidents have increased rapidly, making stronger safety measures urgent.
• Making work stoppage laws and introducing WBGT index-based safety standards have become major issues.

1️⃣ Definition

Outdoor workers are all workers who work outside in construction, delivery, farming, landscaping, environmental cleaning, transportation, and other outdoor jobs. They work in outdoor environments instead of indoors like offices or factories, so they are directly exposed to weather changes like heat waves, cold snaps, fine dust, and typhoons.

More than 4 million people, about 15-20% of all workers in Korea, work outdoors. Protecting their safety and health has become an important social task.

💡 Why is this important?

• Climate change is increasing extreme weather like heat waves and cold snaps.
• Weather-related diseases like heat illness and cold injury are rapidly increasing among outdoor workers.
• Creating safe work environments is workers' basic right and social responsibility.
• It can reduce social costs like labor loss and increased medical expenses.

2️⃣ Types of Outdoor Workers and Risk Factors

📕 Main Types of Outdoor Workers

• Construction workers are the most representative. Main jobs include:

  • Construction workers at building and civil engineering sites make up more than 40% of all outdoor workers.
  • Workers in road construction, water and sewage construction, and electrical and communication facility construction.
  • Skilled workers with special functions like crane operation, high-altitude work, and welding.
  • Management workers like site supervisors and safety managers are also included.

• Service and transportation workers also make up a large portion. Main jobs include:

  • Delivery and courier drivers, and quick service drivers.
  • Bus and taxi drivers, parking lot attendants, and other transportation workers.
  • Environmental cleaners, garbage collectors, and recycling workers.
  • Landscaping and garden management workers, golf course managers.
  • Security guards, parking guides, traffic controllers, and other security and guidance workers.

📕 Main Risk Factors and Health Effects

• Weather conditions are the biggest risk factor. Main risks include:

  • Heat waves: Can cause heat illnesses like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and dehydration.
  • Cold snaps: Risk of cold injuries like frostbite and hypothermia.
  • Rain: Increased risk of accidents like slipping, falling, and electric shock.
  • Strong winds: Risk of falling objects and structural collapse.
  • Fine dust: Can worsen respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

• Additional risks from special work environments exist. Main risk factors include:

  • Heavy equipment and vehicle dangers: Risk of traffic accidents and crushing accidents always exists.
  • High-altitude work risks: High risk of falling accidents.
  • Noise and vibration: Risk of hearing damage and vibration disease.
  • Chemical exposure: Can be exposed to asphalt, welding fumes, and dust.
  • Irregular work hours: Health deterioration from night work and shift work is concerning.

Major Challenges Facing Outdoor Workers

1. Insufficient legal protection: Relatively fewer safety regulations compared to indoor workers
2. Lack of employer awareness: Low safety awareness among employers about heat waves and cold snaps
3. Unclear work stoppage standards: No clear standards for when work should be stopped
4. Insufficient protective equipment: Lack of proper cooling/heating facilities and protective equipment
5. Lack of emergency response systems: Insufficient response systems for emergencies like heat illness

3️⃣ Government Policies and System Improvement Plans

✅ Current Government Response Policies

• The Ministry of Employment and Labor's heat wave response guidelines are being implemented. Main contents include:

  • Published guidelines for employers to prevent heat illness.
  • Recommends adjusting work hours during heat waves, extending break times, and providing sufficient drinks.
  • Made installation of rest facilities like shade, air conditioning, and fans mandatory.
  • Requires heat illness prevention education and health management systems.
  • Can impose fines up to 3 million won for violations.

• A warning system linked with the Korea Meteorological Administration is operating. Main systems include:

  • Activates workplace response manuals when heat wave warnings are issued.
  • Conducts risk assessments using WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) index.
  • Provides customized safety information linked with regional weather information.
  • Builds connections with emergency medical institutions to support quick treatment.
  • Distributes multilingual safety education materials for foreign workers.

✅ Legislation Progress and System Improvement Plans

• Discussions on work stoppage legislation are active. Main discussion points include:

  • Plans to define heat waves as natural disasters to establish grounds for work stoppage during disasters are being reviewed.
  • Plans to make mandatory work stoppage when WBGT index reaches 33 degrees or higher are being discussed.
  • Plans for worker wage protection and employer support during work stoppages are also being reviewed.
  • Plans to greatly strengthen punishment levels beyond current levels have been proposed.

• Comprehensive outdoor worker protection laws are being promoted. Main contents include:

  • Clarify the definition of outdoor workers and expand the scope of application.
  • Create new regulations for work standards by weather conditions and mandatory protective equipment.
  • Make regular health checkups and heat illness prevention education mandatory.
  • Review plans to make placement of dedicated safety managers for outdoor workers mandatory.
  • Introduce support programs and incentive systems for employers.

4️⃣ Related Term Explanations

🔎 Heat Illness

• Heat illness refers to health problems that occur in high-temperature environments.
• Heat illness refers to diseases that occur when body temperature control functions become abnormal due to long exposure to high temperatures. It mainly occurs in outdoor workers or elderly people during summer heat waves, and can be life-threatening without proper treatment.
• Main types of heat illness include: First, heat stroke where body temperature rises above 40 degrees and consciousness can be lost - the most dangerous condition. Second, heat exhaustion where dehydration and electrolyte imbalance occur from excessive sweating. Third, heat cramps where muscle cramps and pain appear. Fourth, heat fainting where consciousness is temporarily lost.
• To prevent heat illness, sufficient water intake, rest in cool places, wearing appropriate clothing, and avoiding excessive work are important. When symptoms appear, immediately move to a cool place and get help from medical professionals.

🔎 WBGT Index

• WBGT index is an international standard indicator that measures heat stress.
• WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) index is a heat indicator that shows the degree of heat the human body feels by combining wet bulb temperature, black globe temperature, and dry bulb temperature. It can accurately measure the actual heat felt by the human body by considering humidity, radiant heat, and wind rather than just simple air temperature.
• Main characteristics of WBGT index include: First, it is displayed in a range of 0-50 degrees, with higher numbers being more dangerous. Second, different calculation formulas are applied for indoors and outdoors. Third, it is a standard indicator widely used internationally in occupational safety and health fields. Fourth, different standard values are applied according to work intensity.
• Generally, WBGT 28 degrees or higher is caution, 31 degrees or higher is warning, and 33 degrees or higher is danger level. Many countries regulate stopping outdoor work when WBGT reaches 33 degrees or higher, and Korea is also reviewing legislation based on this standard.

🔎 Occupational Safety and Health Act

• The Occupational Safety and Health Act is the basic law that protects worker safety and health.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Act is a law enacted to prevent various dangers and health hazards that can occur in industrial sites and protect worker safety and health. It comprehensively regulates employer safety duties, worker rights, and government supervision systems.
• Main contents of the Occupational Safety and Health Act include: First, employer safety and health management duties are regulated. Second, there are duties for safety measures and wearing protective equipment for dangerous work. Third, workers' right to stop work and right to receive safety and health education are guaranteed. Fourth, government supervision and punishment regulations are specified.
• Recently, provisions to protect outdoor workers have been strengthened, and heat illness prevention, work adjustments during heat waves, and providing proper rest facilities have been regulated as legal duties. In the future, work stoppage standards according to weather conditions and stronger protective measures will be added.

5️⃣ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Must outdoor work be stopped unconditionally when a heat wave warning is issued?

A: Currently in Korea, there is no legal regulation requiring unconditional stoppage of outdoor work when heat wave warnings are issued. However, according to Ministry of Employment and Labor guidelines, employers must take measures like adjusting work hours during heat waves, extending break times, and providing cooling facilities. What is currently being discussed is legislation to make work stoppage mandatory when WBGT index reaches 33 degrees or higher. Overseas, Japan recommends stopping outdoor work at WBGT 31 degrees or higher, and Australia at 35 degrees or higher. When work stoppage is difficult, alternatives include adjusting work time to 15 minutes work, 15 minutes rest, or changing work hours to before 8 AM and after 6 PM. Workers can exercise their right to stop work when they feel danger, and should not receive disadvantages for this. In the future, more specific and mandatory work stoppage standards linked with the Korea Meteorological Administration's heat wave warnings are expected to be established.

Q: What compensation can outdoor workers receive if they get heat illness?

A: If outdoor workers get heat illness while performing work duties, they can be recognized as industrial accidents and receive various compensations. First, they can receive medical care benefits through the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, with full treatment costs supported. During treatment periods, they can receive temporary disability benefits of 70% of average wages. If disabilities remain, they can receive disability benefits according to the degree of disability, and in case of unfortunate death, survivors receive survivor benefits and funeral expenses. For heat illness to be recognized as an industrial accident, a significant causal relationship between work and disease must be proven. Generally, if the work environment was high temperature, long hours of work without proper rest or water intake, and no other disease factors exist, it is likely to be recognized as an occupational disease. Industrial accident applications must be made within 3 years of heat illness occurrence, and can be applied to the company or Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service. Recently, the standards for recognizing heat illness as industrial accidents are being relaxed, so it is good to actively apply if suspected.