Korea Forest Service Implements 'Heatwave Safety Measures' at Forest Management Sites

Grass cutting work is in full swing in the mountain areas during the summer season. Photo by Korea Forest Service

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] This summer, with an unprecedented heatwave forecasted to bring temperatures higher than average, the Korea Forest Service is implementing safety measures to prevent fatalities at forest work sites.

The Korea Forest Service announced on the 15th that it has designated the period from the end of this month to the end of August as the heatwave countermeasure period, during which it will promote safety measures against heatwaves at forest management project sites and other locations.

The main safety measures include avoiding work after 12 PM when the risk of direct sunlight exposure is high, guaranteeing workers' days off during heatwave warnings, providing safety-related supplies along with water, shade, and rest time, and flexibly adjusting work hours according to weather alerts.

Additionally, local governments and regional forest services, as project implementing agencies, are encouraged to extend the completion deadlines for contracted construction work during the heatwave period and to notify workers in advance about changes in work schedules (morning shifts or days off) in direct employment projects when heatwave warnings are issued.

Lee Won-hee, Director of the Forest Resources Division at the Korea Forest Service, stated, “We will ensure thorough safety management at work sites during the heatwave through on-site fatality prevention activities, worker fitness management, and the establishment of a rapid response system.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.