This report covers the revision of occupational safety and health regulations for strengthening workplace heat stroke prevention and the status of heat stroke casualties in 2024.
Key Points
1. 2024 Heat Stroke Casualty Status
- Workplace heat stroke casualties: 1,257 people, highest since statistics began in 2005
- Deaths: 31 people, second highest since 1989 statistics began, after 47 in 2010
- Increase of 151 people from 1,106 in 2023 (13.7% increase)
- Total includes those requiring 4+ days off work due to occupational illness
2. Industry-Specific Occurrence (2024)
- Manufacturing: 235 people (18.7%), highest
- Construction: 228 people (18.1%), second
- Construction deaths: 10 people (32.3%), highest
- Manufacturing deaths: 5 people (16.1%)
- These two industries account for about 40% of casualties and 50-60% of deaths
3. Monthly and Hourly Occurrence Patterns
- Concentrated in July-August (about 70% of total)
- Peak hours: 2:00-4:00 PM
- Prominent occurrence at temperatures above 30°C and WBGT values above 28°C
- Many cases occur 2-3 hours after work begins
4. Labor Safety and Health Regulation Amendments
- Effective date: May 20, 2025
- Mandatory WBGT value measurement and utilization
- Strengthened prevention measures in high heat stroke risk workplaces
- Enhanced worker education and information provision
- Implementation of proper placement based on health examination results
5. STOP! Heat Stroke Cool Work Campaign
- Implementation period: May 1 to September 30, 2025
- Multilingual leaflets created (Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Indonesian, Tagalog)
- Integrated promotion with related ministries and organizations
- Aimed at raising heat stroke prevention awareness and thorough countermeasures in workplaces
The article shows that workplace heat stroke has reached record levels, making strengthened countermeasures particularly urgent in construction and manufacturing industries, with prevention measures being mandated through regulatory amendments.