3 days ago
Japanese firms take steps to prevent heatstroke
Extremely hot summers are becoming more common in Japan, with temperatures sometimes rising to dangerous levels. Starting on Sunday, Japanese companies will be required to protect workers from intense heat. They will also need to make sure their staff are ready to deal with heatstroke emergencies.
People working in the construction industry are at high risk of developing heatstroke. An air conditioner and ice water are available at a site in Tokyo to help employees cool themselves down.
The workers know who to contact in an emergency. The firm has also compiled guidelines for these situations.
The number of heatstroke casualties at Japanese workplaces in 2024 stood at 1,257, a record high. Thirty-one of those people died.
An IT company in Tokyo has developed a system that focuses on body weight to help catch the early signs of heatstroke.
Workers are required to weigh themselves a few times a day and to answer questions about their physical condition. The data is analyzed to assess the risk of heatstroke.
Japan's health ministry says a person who loses more than 1.5 percent of their body weight, mainly through sweating, is at high risk.
An expert says support for small businesses will be the key to ensuring preventive measures against heatstroke become more widespread.
Toyo University Associate Professor Kitaoka Daisuke believes it is essential for the government to support small businesses through subsidies and other forms of assistance.
Kitaoka says subsidies will help companies to purchase more equipment to tackle the problem of heatstroke.
