Rest During the Day, Areas Near Kiln with Feels-Like Temperature Over 40 Degrees Marked as 'No Entry'

Kiln installed at Ssangyong C&E Donghae Plant. Since it operates for 24 hours at temperatures above 1500 degrees, the surrounding perceived temperature rises above 40 degrees in midsummer.
[Photo by Ssangyong C&E]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] As the monsoon season comes to an end and the heatwave is expected to intensify, industrial sites are busy preparing for the extreme heat.

In particular, from this year onward, extra caution is required because if an employee dies from heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke at the workplace, the 'Serious Accidents Punishment Act' (Serious Accidents Punishment Act) will apply. Heatstroke is classified as an 'occupational disease.' If three or more cases of heatstroke occur within a year at a workplace, or if a death due to heatstroke occurs, the business can be punished for violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, between 2016 and last year, 182 cases of heat-related illnesses occurred during the summer months (June to August), with 29 deaths. Most deaths occurred in construction and service industries such as environmental cleaning, where outdoor work is frequent; 69.0% of the deaths were in the construction industry. Deaths also occurred in manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, telecommunications, waste disposal, forestry, and food delivery industries.

In the cement and paint industries, where outdoor work is unavoidable, work is stopped during the hottest daytime hours. Ssangyong C&E conducts constant safety patrols to check workplace safety. When the minimum temperature exceeds 33 degrees Celsius and a heatwave advisory is issued, most production lines except key facilities like the kiln operate flexibly, stopping during the day and running the factory from 11 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next day.

The kiln, a core facility in cement production operating 24 hours at temperatures above 1500 degrees Celsius, has surrounding temperatures exceeding 30 degrees even in spring and fall. On days when the heat exceeds 30 degrees, the perceived temperature near the kiln surpasses 40 degrees, so in midsummer, workers are completely prohibited from approaching the area.

Most cement plants, including Ssangyong C&E and Sampyo Cement, stop outdoor work and encourage rest between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. during prolonged heatwaves. Workers are advised to drink about one cup of cool water (with electrolytes) every 15 to 20 minutes during work. Ice vests are mandatory for indoor and outdoor work, and watermelons and beverages are provided regularly.

KCC does not conduct paint work between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Most window and gypsum board work is indoors, where salt and ice are provided frequently. For outdoor work, they prefer to work in the cooler evening hours, similar to paint work.

Samhwa Paint uses large fans as air conditioning cannot be installed on production lines. Production workers are provided with cool sleeves and cool scarves, and ice, cold drinks, ice cream, and saline glucose are supplied regularly.

A cement industry official said, "Lack of sleep and decreased concentration due to heatwaves are hidden dangers that can quickly lead to safety accidents, so we always check preparation status and employees' health before, during, and after work," adding, "We are doing our best to prevent safety accidents by operating 24-hour safety patrols."

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