"Protect workers from extreme heat or face fines, Japan tells firms", 2 June 2025

Tougher rules being enforced in Japan will see employers get fined if they fail to take adequate precautions to protect workers from extreme temperatures.

The revised legislation, which came into effect on June 1... comes after 30 workplace deaths and roughly 1,200 injuries in 2024 associated with high temperatures, according to Health Ministry data. Most of those affected worked in construction or manufacturing.

Japan’s government moved to strengthen protections following last summer’s searing heat – which included the highest July temperatures on record...Businesses face potential penalties, including fines of 500,000 yen (S$4,500), if provisions are not sufficient...

Japan’s legislation requires employers to implement protocols to quickly spot and aid workers who show symptoms of heatstroke. Policies encourage companies to use a buddy system at worksites, distribute wearable devices to monitor staff, and provide emergency transportation to hospitals or clinics.

Employers are urged to monitor the wet bulb globe temperature index, a gauge of heat stress in direct sunlight that takes into account factors such as temperature and humidity...