Ice vests and adjusted hours are being offered to workers at some of South Korea’s biggest companies to protect staff from stifling heat as the nation braces for more scorching weather this month.
Employees at petrochemical producer LG Chem Ltd are being offered ice vests to keep cool, while workers at the nation’s biggest steelmaker, Posco Holdings Inc, and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co can take extended breaks to prevent heat-related illness.
The adjustments have been made due to rising temperatures, spokespeople said.
Photo: AP
Extreme temperatures are baking vast areas of the world from Asia to Europe and the Americas, stretching power grids and posing a serious threat to human health.
South Korea raised its heat wave warning to the highest level for the first time in four years earlier this week, with some parts of the nation experiencing temperatures above 38oC.
South Korea has been battered by a range of extreme weather, with flooding and landslides last month damaging homes and roads, and killing people. The more recent scorching heat has led to the deaths of at least 22 people as of Tuesday, the National Fire Agency said.
The Korea Meteorological Administration said high temperatures are expected to persist, its 10-day forecast yesterday showed.
Apparent temperatures are likely to hover at about 35oC in most parts of the country.
To cope with heat, LG Chem is also offering extended breaks if temperatures are forecast to remain above 33oC for more than two days. Battery maker LG Energy Solution Ltd said it has changed the hours for staff working in outdoor construction to avoid exposure to the hottest parts of the day.
Shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean Co said it would extend lunch breaks by one hour if temperatures exceed 31.5oC, and Samsung Electronics Co said the company is complying with the nation’s guidelines and constantly checking temperatures at its working areas to ensure the safety of employees.
Meanwhile, at least 108 people were treated for heat-related illnesses at the World Scout Jamboree being held in South Korea.
Most of them have recovered, but at least two remain in treatment at an on-site hospital as of yesterday morning, said Choi Chang-haeng, secretary-general of the jamboree’s organizing committee.
The committee, which plans to proceed with the event while adding dozens of more medical staff to prepare for further emergencies, did not confirm the ages and other personal details of those who were injured.
Wednesday night’s opening ceremony of the jamboree brought more than 40,000 scouts, mostly teens, to a campsite built on land reclaimed from the sea in the town of Buan. The temperature there reached 35oC on Wednesday.
South Korean Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min instructed officials during an emergency meeting to explore “all possible measures” to protect the participants, including adjusting the event’s outdoor activities, adding more emergency vehicles and medical posts, and installing more shade structures and air-conditioning.
He said the goal is to prevent “even one serious illness or death,” according to comments shared by the ministry.
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