New rules to protect Japanese workers from heat illness: reports

According to the report, among the suggested policies are the implementation of a buddy system at work sites, distribution of wearable devices to monitor staff, and providing emergency transportation to hospitals or clinics.

Employers are also required to monitor the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature index, an international standard used to assess thermal comfort during heat extremes. It takes into account the air temperature, humidity, radiant heat, and air movement.

Japan’s new legislation requires employers to have specific measures in place for work sites where the index value surpasses 28 degrees Celsius or an atmospheric temperature of 31 degrees Celsius for more than one hour, or at least for a few hours a day, Bloomberg reported.

Employers who neglect these measures may face penalties of up to JPY500,000.

Record heat in Japan

The new legislation comes after Japan had its hottest summer on record in July 2024, with the average temperature hitting 1.76 degrees Celsius higher than the average year, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).