Latest news with #TakuFurukawa
Qatar Tribune
13-07-2025
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
Japan mandates heatstroke protection for workers
Agencies Companies in Japan are now required to take steps to protect their employees against heatstroke, with the government imposing new rules in response to the steadily increasing number of deaths in recent years attributed to the worsening summer heat. Under a revised ordinance that took effect on June 1, businesses will be penalized if they fail to act after investigations found many deaths resulted from delayed detection of symptoms and inadequate responses. Companies are required to take measures for staff working for 60 consecutive minutes or for four hours per day in temperatures exceeding 31 C, or at 28 C or above on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature -- a global heat index calculated based on multiple factors including humidity. Under the rules, companies must designate a person at each workplace to be responsible for reporting possible heatstroke cases among staff. Business operators must also set up procedures to prevent the worsening of symptoms, such as having an employee immediately stop working, cooling the person down and ensuring medical support is provided. Employers are required to inform their workforce of the arrangements. In the event of a breach, penalties include up to six months of imprisonment or a fine of up to 500,000 yen, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said. The number of deaths caused by heatstroke at workplaces hit 31 in 2024, exceeding 30 for the third straight year, as Japan logged its equal-hottest summer since comparable data became available in 1898. The number of workplace deaths and injuries related to heatstroke in 2024 was a record-high 1,257, the ministry analysis of 103 heatstroke deaths between 2020 and 2023 found 70 percent of victims were working outdoors, while 78 cases saw delayed detection of symptoms contributing to the death. Taku Furukawa, a lawyer with expertise in workplace heatstroke compensation cases, stressed companies need to seriously consider the risk posed by the physical intensity of tasks being performed, in addition to monitoring the temperature and time spent working, saying prevention is key.
Straits Times
13-07-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
New rules force companies in Japan to address heatstroke crisis
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox TOKYO - Companies in Japan are now required to take steps to protect their employees against heatstroke, with the government imposing new rules in response to the steadily increasing number of deaths in recent years attributed to the worsening summer heat. Under a revised ordinance that took effect on June 1, businesses will be penalised if they fail to act after investigations found many deaths resulted from delayed detection of symptoms and inadequate responses. Companies are required to take measures for staff working for 60 consecutive minutes or for four hours per day in temperatures exceeding 31 deg C, or at 28 deg C or above on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature – a global heat index calculated based on multiple factors including humidity. Under the rules, companies must designate a person at each workplace to be responsible for reporting possible heatstroke cases among staff. Business operators must also set up procedures to prevent the worsening of symptoms, such as having an employee immediately stop working, cooling the person down and ensuring medical support is provided. Employers are required to inform their workforce of the arrangements. In the event of a breach, penalties include up to six months of imprisonment or a fine of up to 500,000 yen (S$4,352), Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said. The number of deaths caused by heatstroke at workplaces hit 31 in 2024, exceeding 30 for the third straight year, as Japan logged its equal-hottest summer since comparable data became available in 1898. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Government looking at enhancing laws around vaping to tackle issue of drug-laced vapes in Singapore Singapore Why the vape scourge in Singapore concerns everyone Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons Singapore Organised crime groups pushing drug-laced vapes in Asia including Singapore: UN Singapore Govt will continue to support families, including growing group of seniors: PM Wong at PCF Family Day Singapore From Normal stream to Parliament: 3 Singapore politicians share their journeys Business 29 Jollibean workers get help from MOM, other agencies, over unpaid salaries Asia Why China's high-end hotels are setting up food stalls outside their doors The number of workplace deaths and injuries related to heatstroke in 2024 was a record-high 1,257, the ministry said. An analysis of 103 heatstroke deaths between 2020 and 2023 found 70 per cent of victims were working outdoors, while 78 cases saw delayed detection of symptoms contributing to the death. In 41 deaths, it was found there was an inadequate response to the worker's symptoms. Mr Taku Furukawa, a lawyer with expertise in workplace heatstroke compensation cases, stressed companies need to seriously consider the risk posed by the physical intensity of tasks being performed, in addition to monitoring the temperature and time spent working, saying prevention is key. KYODO NEWS
Japan Today
13-07-2025
- Health
- Japan Today
New rules force companies in Japan to address heatstroke crisis
Companies in Japan are now required to take steps to protect their employees against heatstroke, with the government imposing new rules in response to the steadily increasing number of deaths in recent years attributed to the worsening summer heat. Under a revised ordinance that took effect on June 1, businesses will be penalized if they fail to act after investigations found many deaths resulted from delayed detection of symptoms and inadequate responses. Companies are required to take measures for staff working for 60 consecutive minutes or for four hours per day in temperatures exceeding 31 C, or at 28 C or above on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature -- a global heat index calculated based on multiple factors including humidity. Under the rules, companies must designate a person at each workplace to be responsible for reporting possible heatstroke cases among staff. Business operators must also set up procedures to prevent the worsening of symptoms, such as having an employee immediately stop working, cooling the person down and ensuring medical support is provided. Employers are required to inform their workforce of the arrangements. In the event of a breach, penalties include up to six months of imprisonment or a fine of up to 500,000 yen, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said. The number of deaths caused by heatstroke at workplaces hit 31 in 2024, exceeding 30 for the third straight year, as Japan logged its equal-hottest summer since comparable data became available in 1898. The number of workplace deaths and injuries related to heatstroke in 2024 was a record-high 1,257, the ministry said. An analysis of 103 heatstroke deaths between 2020 and 2023 found 70 percent of victims were working outdoors, while 78 cases saw delayed detection of symptoms contributing to the death. In 41 deaths, it was found there was an inadequate response to the worker's symptoms. Taku Furukawa, a lawyer with expertise in workplace heatstroke compensation cases, stressed companies need to seriously consider the risk posed by the physical intensity of tasks being performed, in addition to monitoring the temperature and time spent working, saying prevention is key. "It is often too late when heatstroke is detected. The new regulation lacks the perspective of taking steps to prevent heatstroke, such as reducing exposure to heat at workplaces and shortening or adjusting working hours," Furukawa said. © KYODO
The Mainichi
13-07-2025
- Health
- The Mainichi
New rules force companies in Japan to address heatstroke crisis
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Companies in Japan are now required to take steps to protect their employees against heatstroke, with the government imposing new rules in response to the steadily increasing number of deaths in recent years attributed to the worsening summer heat. Under a revised ordinance that took effect on June 1, businesses will be penalized if they fail to act after investigations found many deaths resulted from delayed detection of symptoms and inadequate responses. Companies are required to take measures for staff working for 60 consecutive minutes or for four hours per day in temperatures exceeding 31 C, or at 28 C or above on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature -- a global heat index calculated based on multiple factors including humidity. Under the rules, companies must designate a person at each workplace to be responsible for reporting possible heatstroke cases among staff. Business operators must also set up procedures to prevent the worsening of symptoms, such as having an employee immediately stop working, cooling the person down and ensuring medical support is provided. Employers are required to inform their workforce of the arrangements. In the event of a breach, penalties include up to six months of imprisonment or a fine of up to 500,000 yen ($3,400), the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said. The number of deaths caused by heatstroke at workplaces hit 31 in 2024, exceeding 30 for the third straight year, as Japan logged its equal-hottest summer since comparable data became available in 1898. The number of workplace deaths and injuries related to heatstroke in 2024 was a record-high 1,257, the ministry said. An analysis of 103 heatstroke deaths between 2020 and 2023 found 70 percent of victims were working outdoors, while 78 cases saw delayed detection of symptoms contributing to the death. In 41 deaths, it was found there was an inadequate response to the worker's symptoms. Taku Furukawa, a lawyer with expertise in workplace heatstroke compensation cases, stressed companies need to seriously consider the risk posed by the physical intensity of tasks being performed, in addition to monitoring the temperature and time spent working, saying prevention is key. "It is often too late when heatstroke is detected. The new regulation lacks the perspective of taking steps to prevent heatstroke, such as reducing exposure to heat at workplaces and shortening or adjusting working hours," Furukawa said.
Kyodo News
13-07-2025
- Health
- Kyodo News
New rules force companies in Japan to address heatstroke crisis
TOKYO - Companies in Japan are now required to take steps to protect their employees against heatstroke, with the government imposing new rules in response to the steadily increasing number of deaths in recent years attributed to the worsening summer heat. Under a revised ordinance that took effect on June 1, businesses will be penalized if they fail to act after investigations found many deaths resulted from delayed detection of symptoms and inadequate responses. Companies are required to take measures for staff working for 60 consecutive minutes or for four hours per day in temperatures exceeding 31 C, or at 28 C or above on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature -- a global heat index calculated based on multiple factors including humidity. Under the rules, companies must designate a person at each workplace to be responsible for reporting possible heatstroke cases among staff. Business operators must also set up procedures to prevent the worsening of symptoms, such as having an employee immediately stop working, cooling the person down and ensuring medical support is provided. Employers are required to inform their workforce of the arrangements. In the event of a breach, penalties include up to six months of imprisonment or a fine of up to 500,000 yen ($3,400), the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said. The number of deaths caused by heatstroke at workplaces hit 31 in 2024, exceeding 30 for the third straight year, as Japan logged its equal-hottest summer since comparable data became available in 1898. The number of workplace deaths and injuries related to heatstroke in 2024 was a record-high 1,257, the ministry said. An analysis of 103 heatstroke deaths between 2020 and 2023 found 70 percent of victims were working outdoors, while 78 cases saw delayed detection of symptoms contributing to the death. In 41 deaths, it was found there was an inadequate response to the worker's symptoms. Taku Furukawa, a lawyer with expertise in workplace heatstroke compensation cases, stressed companies need to seriously consider the risk posed by the physical intensity of tasks being performed, in addition to monitoring the temperature and time spent working, saying prevention is key. "It is often too late when heatstroke is detected. The new regulation lacks the perspective of taking steps to prevent heatstroke, such as reducing exposure to heat at workplaces and shortening or adjusting working hours," Furukawa said.
