The Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH) announced on the 9th that it will implement a "heatwave management plan for construction sites based on perceived temperature" to ensure the safety of workers at construction sites against heatwaves.
LH will enforce heatwave management measures based on workers' perceived temperature for precise responses according to construction site conditions. If the perceived temperature exceeds 33℃, workers will be required to take a break of more than 20 minutes within 2 hours, and if the daily maximum perceived temperature exceeds 35℃ for more than 2 days, all outdoor work will be suspended.
To this end, LH will mandate the placement of perceived temperature measuring devices at construction sites (or direct measurements by managers), with measurements to be taken every 2 hours, followed by real-time dissemination of the results via electronic bulletin boards and messaging apps.
Additionally, mobile bus shelters will be provided for small construction sites where installing cooling shelters is difficult or for sites in the early stages of construction. To accommodate foreign workers, guidelines on heat illnesses and prevention, which include foreign languages, will also be distributed.
Measures to strengthen preventive actions for emergencies will be implemented, including regular health status checks for high-risk workers such as those with a history of heat illness, elderly individuals, and foreign workers.
Meanwhile, LH will also establish a safety and health center for construction workers. This center, which will offer health screenings, emergency treatment, and welfare functions, is set to be built in the Namyangju-Wangsu area this year and will be expanded nationwide starting next year.
Lee Sang-jo, head of LH Smart Construction Safety Headquarters, noted, "We have established a comprehensive heatwave management plan to protect the health and lives of construction workers from heatwaves," and said, "We will do our best to minimize the occurrence of heat illnesses."