Expansion of Worker Health Protection Measures Against Cold Waves... Kim Moon-soo Emphasizes the Need to Prevent Cold-Related Illnesses

The Ministry of Employment and Labor will expand the scope of industries to include not only construction but also cleaning and sanitation by March next year to implement the 'Cold Wave Response Worker Health Protection Measures.' The plan is to intensively manage related workplaces, including foreign workers as well as domestic ones, and strengthen health protection support. On the 2nd, Minister Kim Moon-soo visited a construction site and urged safety measures in response to the sudden cold wave this winter.

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo visited the early morning labor market in Nam-gu, Seoul on the 2nd to emphasize safety on site. Provided by the Ministry of Employment and Labor

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After visiting the Namguro Dawn Labor Market in Seoul on the same day, Minister Kim visited a housing redevelopment maintenance project site in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, where he observed a pre-work safety inspection meeting and checked the safety management status of construction sites during winter. This is because, in winter construction sites, the lowered temperature slows down the curing speed of concrete, increasing the possibility of structural collapse, and there are growing safety concerns such as suffocation accidents caused by charcoal.

Minister Kim attended the pre-work safety inspection meeting where risk factors and safety measures were shared and instructed that collapse prevention measures, such as installing supports to prepare for decreased concrete strength, be implemented. He also checked that fire accident prevention measures, such as spark scattering prevention during welding and the placement of fire extinguishers, were properly carried out. He mentioned cold disease prevention measures, including the operation of worker rest facilities equipped with heating devices.

Minister Kim said, "A sudden cold wave is expected this winter," and urged, "In cases of rapid temperature changes, the stability of concrete deteriorates, so please check the implementation status of collapse prevention measures and regularly conduct evacuation drills to prepare for fire accidents." He also requested, "Please provide warm water, clothing, and shelters to prevent workers from suffering from cold-related illnesses."

Kim Moon-soo, Minister of Employment and Labor, visiting the early morning labor market in Nam-gu, Seoul on the 2nd. Photo by Ministry of Employment and Labor

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The Ministry of Employment and Labor has established the 'Cold Wave Response Worker Health Protection Measures' to protect the health of workers exposed to cold and plans to implement them until March next year. The plan is to expand health management support for cold-related illnesses and sensitive groups such as the elderly, focusing on industries and occupations vulnerable to cold waves, such as construction, cleaning, and sanitation, where outdoor work is frequent. Technical support, guidance, and inspections for cold disease prevention and sensitive group management will also be strengthened.

Specifically, the health protection target due to the cold wave will be expanded from construction site workers to workers in cleaning, sanitation industries, and foreign workers. In addition, 30,000 workplaces where these workers belong will be designated as cold wave vulnerable workplaces for focused management. Considering that many workers in cold wave vulnerable workplaces are sensitive groups to cold diseases, such as the elderly and those with underlying conditions, health protection support will be strengthened.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor will operate a two-week voluntary inspection period from the 2nd to the 15th to check risk factors for cold diseases and establish prevention measures at vulnerable workplaces (30,000 sites). Afterwards, local offices will focus on guidance and inspection of the implementation of the three major cold disease prevention rules (warm clothing, water, shelter) until the end of February next year. A total of 4,000 sites nationwide will be targeted.

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