Prevention of Cold-Related Illnesses Before Winter | Inspection Points for Outdoor Areas, Warehouses, and Shipping Areas
Prevention of Cold-Related Illnesses Before Winter | Inspection Points for Outdoor Areas, Warehouses, and Shipping Areas
If you hurriedly buy and distribute hand warmers and winter gloves on the day the first cold wave advisory is issued, the quantities and sizes are likely to be mismatched. This article is Outdoor workshops, warehouses, and shipping areas Based on places directly exposed to the cold, I have compiled a list of what to prepare and in what order before winter arrives. I have separated the items required by law from those recommended by the government.
Preparation for cold-related illnesses Finishing preparations before mid-November It is recommended to start in late October with this goal in mind. This is because the government's cold wave response period began on November 15th last winter. The order is as follows: ① Identify locations, personnel, and early morning work exposed to the cold; ② Distribute cold-weather gear to individuals and secure nearby shelters; ③ Establish standards for work hours and rest periods on days with cold wave advisories; and ④ Provide guidance on voluntary applications for sensitive groups and emergency contact systems. Regarding the question of how often to rest during a cold wave... Since there are no legal figures The company must establish standards and keep them in writing.
📌 Why you should start preparing in late October
Last winter (2025~26), the Ministry of Employment and Labor From November 15 to March 15 of the following year The government designated this period as a nationwide cold wave safety countermeasure period, and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency operated an emergency room surveillance system for cold-related illnesses from December 1 to February 28. It takes about a month to complete the purchase of winter gear, the maintenance of shelters, and the agreement on internal standards before the first cold snap arrives. As measures for this winter have not yet been announced as of the time of writing (October 23, 2026), I have summarized them based on last winter.
| division | Official data from last winter | Points to note in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Cold-related illness patients | 364 cases reported to the Emergency Room Surveillance System (14 estimated deaths), an increase from 334 last year. | Since it occurs consistently every winter, it is difficult to dismiss it with the thought that 'it will be fine this year.' |
| Location and time of occurrence | Outdoors 75.0%, occurred between 6 and 9 AM 20.9% | For locations with dawn or early morning outdoor work, inspections are conducted starting from the work start time. |
| Occupational cold-related illness | 49 industrial accident claims approved in the last 5 years, 34 of which (69.4%) were from workplaces with fewer than 50 employees. | There were many in the facility management, construction, transportation and warehousing (delivery and logistics), and wholesale and retail sectors. |
| elderly | 57.4% of patients are 65 years or older | We take separate care of older workers and newly assigned employees. |
⚖️ What is stipulated by law and what is recommended by the government
The Industrial Safety and Health Act states that employers High fever and cold Health impairment caused by and Working long hours in heatwaves and cold waves It is established to prevent health problems caused by ( Article 39, Paragraph 1, Subparagraphs 2 and 7 (No. 7 is effective June 1, 2025). Specific measures are in the Rules on Industrial Safety and Health Standards, and measures for each stage of the cold wave advisory are government recommendations.
| division | detail | reason |
|---|---|---|
| court Definition of cold work | According to the regulations, 'cold operations' refer to places handling large quantities of liquid air or dry ice, refrigerators, ice makers, freezers, etc. interior These are tasks performed at the listed locations. Outdoor areas, ambient temperature warehouses, and shipping areas are not automatically included. | Rule Article 559, Paragraph 2 |
| court Prevention of cold damage | Blood circulation exercise guidance and nutrition guidance during cold work Prepare hot water , change out of wet work clothes immediately | Rule 563 |
| court Rest and relaxation facilities | When working in high heat, cold, or high humidity Rest properly Ensure that rest facilities are provided away from the workplace. No specific values are given for rest intervals. | Rule 566 · Article 567 |
| court Cold weather protective gear | Handling large quantities of low-temperature objects or Significantly cold places Winter hats, winter boots, winter gloves, and winter clothing for workers working at Private use Paid as, workers wear | Rule 572 |
| court Rest facility standards | Target workplaces with 20 or more regular employees, etc., must equip rest facilities with heating and cooling functions to maintain 18–28℃ (based on year-round standards without seasonal distinction). | Article 128-2 of the Act , Annex 21-2 of the Enforcement Rules |
| Recommended 5 Basic Rules for Cold Wave Safety | Warm clothes, warm shelter (rest), warm water, adjustment of work hours, call 119 | Ministry of Employment and Labor (November 2025) |
| Recommended Special alert phased measures · Sensitive groups | Adjust or shorten work hours during a cold wave advisory; suspend or minimize outdoor work during cold hours during a cold wave warning; and focus management on sensitive groups and heavy workers. | Cold-related illness prevention checklist |
🧊 Cold-related illnesses: Things you should know
Cold-related illnesses are conditions that cause physical damage directly due to the cold. Approximately 80% of reported patients last winter were hypothermia It was. It is most important for the site manager and colleagues to recognize the initial symptoms and immediately notify 119.
| disease | What state is it? | Suspicion in times like this | Things to do first |
|---|---|---|---|
| hypothermia | A state where core body temperature has dropped below 35℃ | Severe body tremors, slurred speech, drowsiness, impaired judgment | Call 119, move to a warm place, remove wet clothes and wrap in a blanket, and apply hot packs to the armpits and abdomen. |
| statue | A condition in which the skin and subcutaneous tissue are frozen and damaged due to severe cold. | Fingers, toes, ears, and nose are white or numb | Move to a warm place, do not thaw if there is a risk of refreezing, seek medical attention immediately. |
| classmate | Skin inflammation caused by continuous exposure to damp and mild cold. | Red, swollen, itchy, or burning | Keep warm and treat |
| immersion disease and sinking foot disease | Damage caused by prolonged exposure of hands and feet to cold water or wet conditions | Swelling, numbness, or discoloration of the feet | Change wet socks and shoes immediately and seek medical attention. |
Regarding the method of immersing frostbitten areas in warm water, the water temperature varies slightly depending on the institution's guidelines, so on-site Call 119 and connect with a medical professional first, rather than taking emergency measures. It is safer to educate them to do so.
🏭 Inspection Points by Location: Outdoor Area, Warehouse, Shipping Area
| location | A situation where the cold is a problem | Inspection Points |
|---|---|---|
| outdoor workspace (Loading area, parking, security, cleaning, exterior facilities) |
Early morning work, wind, distance from shelter | Mutual confirmation with colleagues regarding the start time of dawn work, locations of windbreaks and heated shelters, and communication regarding working in pairs or at designated times. |
| Ambient temperature warehouse | No heating and frequent opening of doors | Checking indoor workplace temperature, locations for long-duration stop operations (inspection, packaging), and the possibility of wearing cold-weather clothing (whether it interferes with work such as forklift operation). |
| Inside the cold/freezer warehouse | According to the rules cold work Corresponds to | Provision of personal winter clothing and boots, hot water, rest facilities away from work, and internal standards for continuous stay time |
| Shipping yard/dock | Drafts due to open shutters, wet floors and work clothes, and waiting vehicles | Windbreak curtains/dock room condition, spare gloves/socks, wet work clothes changing area, flammable materials around heaters |
| Shelters and rest facilities | Use of heating devices | Whether it is close to the workplace, whether there is no risk of hazardous gases such as heater fires or carbon monoxide, and whether warm water is available |
Because the risk varies by location, first List of places If you create a plan and record the number of personnel, early morning work, exposure to wetness, distance to shelters, and the provision of cold-weather gear for each location, you will see where to start making improvements. Here is how to incorporate the timing of changes in winter working conditions into the risk assessment. Timing for Ad-hoc Risk Assessments and Recording Criteria Please refer to this.
📋 Go to download location-specific checklists and pre-inspection checklists in Excel
🗓️ Preparation Order and Schedule
This is an example where the target completion date is set for mid-November. Please adjust the date forward or backward to suit your company's circumstances.
| period | Things to do | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Late October | Identifying winter work locations, personnel, and early morning operations; listening to inconveniences from last winter | List of places, improvement request notes |
| Early November | Purchase winter gear after checking the quantity and sizes, and check shelter locations and heating equipment. | Purchase list, shelter layout |
| Early to mid-November | Establish standards for working hours, rest periods, and outdoor work on days with cold wave advisories, and share them with the Occupational Safety and Health Committee, etc. | Internal Cold Wave Response Standards |
| Mid-November | Individual distribution of cold-weather gear, education on cold-related illness symptoms and 119 reporting, and guidance on voluntary application for sensitive groups | Payment ledger, training and notice records |
| December to February | Operate according to the date of the special alert issuance and record the details of the measures taken. | Special Report Day Operation Record |
| March | Reviewing operational results and reflecting them in preparations for next winter | Retrospective Memo |
When establishing internal standards, it is easier to operate if you listen to the opinions of on-site workers and submit them as a committee agenda item. Regarding how to organize the agenda and manage follow-up... Practical Operation of the Industrial Safety and Health Committee It was covered in.
🌡️ Establishing Operating Standards for Cold Wave Advisories
The Korea Meteorological Administration issues cold wave advisories from October to April based on the following criteria. If the company predetermines tasks for each advisory level, field managers can move immediately on the day an advisory is issued.
| step | Based on the Korea Meteorological Administration's announcement standards | Government Recommended Measures | What the company will decide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave advisory | When the morning minimum temperature is expected to drop by more than 10℃ from the previous day to 3℃ or lower and be more than 3℃ lower than the average, or when the morning minimum temperature is expected to remain at -12℃ or lower for two or more consecutive days | Adjusting work hours or shortening work hours (e.g., delaying the start time from 6 AM to 9 AM) | Work start time, rest interval, exclusion of outdoor solitary work for sensitive groups |
| Cold wave warning | When the temperature is expected to drop by more than 15℃ from the previous day to 3℃ or lower and be more than 3℃ lower than the average, or when the morning minimum temperature is expected to remain at -15℃ or lower for two or more consecutive days | Stop or minimize outdoor work during cold hours (early morning). | List of tasks to be suspended or postponed, alternative tasks, decision-makers |
👥 How to take care of sensitive groups
The Ministry of Employment and Labor's pre-inspection checklist is used during cold wave advisories. Hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, hypothyroidism, elderly, new recruits It is recommended to prioritize the management of sensitive groups and heavy workers. However, disease information is related to health Sensitive Information The company must not collect without separate consent. Article 23 of the Personal Information Protection Act ).
- By voluntary application : We provide guidance to all employees, such as, "If you have a health condition that makes you vulnerable to the cold, please request a consultation with the health manager."
- Determine measures during the health manager consultation. If there are individuals subject to follow-up care for special or general health examinations, the health manager reviews them together.
- Only measures for the manager Instead of the disease name, only the details and duration of the work adjustment are conveyed, such as 'Exclusion of outdoor solitary work during cold wave advisory, review in late January'.
- Separate the records Counseling records are kept separately by the health manager, and case codes are used instead of names in the management list.
Which health information can be shared with the manager Procedures for return to work for employees on health leave You can view it based on the same principles as the information sharing scope table.
✅ Pre-Winter Checklist
warm clothes
Warm Shelter · Water
Working hours
Emergency and sensitive groups
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Start purchasing after the first special report is released The quantity and size do not match, and no payment record is kept.
- I decided it was fine since there is a break room. If you spend most of your break time going back and forth to the office break room, you won't be resting on-site.
- Cold-weather gear is provided for sharing. The rules stipulate individual-only payments.
- Share the list of sensitive groups along with the disease name. : Only work adjustment details are conveyed to the manager.
- It was recorded that the heatwave rest standards were applied as is. Since there are no separate figures for cold waves, I am leaving the basis and explanation that this was determined according to company standards.
❓ FAQ
Q1. Is outdoor work also considered 'cold work' under the law?
Cold work under Article 559 of the Rules refers to work in listed locations, such as inside a freezer, so outdoor work is not automatically included. However, since Article 39 of the Act stipulates that it is the employer's duty to prevent health hazards caused by working for long periods in cold weather, and Article 572 of the Rules mandates the provision of cold protection equipment for "workers working in significantly cold places," it is safer to prepare for outdoor work at the same level.
Q2. How often should I have them rest during a cold wave?
There are no specific numerical limits for cold wave rest intervals in the relevant laws. Rule 566 stipulates that "appropriate rest should be provided," and the Ministry of Employment and Labor also recommends granting appropriate rest during cold wave advisories. Please establish internal standards considering work intensity, distance to shelters, and the advisory level, and document them.
Q3. What temperature should the break room be set to?
Workplaces required to comply with the standards for the installation and management of rest facilities (e.g., 20 or more regular employees) must be equipped with heating and cooling functions capable of maintaining a temperature of 18 to 28°C. This range is based on year-round standards regardless of the season.
Q4. Where do construction sites spend money on cold-weather gear?
In last winter's measures, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that industrial safety and health management expenses could be used for the installation or rental of rest facilities and heating equipment, as well as the purchase of insulated gloves and heated vests. Workplaces other than the construction industry must allocate these funds from their company safety and health budgets.
Recommended Posts
📚 Source and Verification Criteria
- Article 39 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Health Measures)
- Articles 559, 563, 566, 567, and 572 of the Rules on Industrial Safety and Health Standards
- Article 128-2 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and Annex 21-2 of the Enforcement Rule (Standards for Installation and Management of Rest Facilities)
- Ministry of Employment and Labor "5 Basic Safety Principles for Cold Waves" Measures to Protect Workers' Health in Preparation for Cold Waves (Nov. 17, 2025)
- Ministry of Employment and Labor Cold-Related Illness Prevention Guidelines and Cold-Related Illness Prevention Pre-check Checklist (2025.11.14.)
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency 2025-2026 Seasonal Cold-Related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System Results (March 10, 2026)
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency: Understanding Health Guidelines for Cold Wave Preparedness and Prevention of Cold-Related Illnesses
- Korea Meteorological Administration weather advisory issuance criteria
Date of verification of laws and regulations: October 23, 2026. The government's countermeasure period and recommended measures are based on data from last winter (2025–26); please check together once this winter's measures are announced. This article is for practical reference only and does not replace legal judgment by individual workplaces.
👉 Check on field workers' health management together before winter
Consult with Nudge EAP regarding health management counseling, health counseling for sensitive groups, and employee mental health support.
Inquire about implementationHealth Management | psychological counseling | Safety Management | Organizational culture | greeting
넛지EAP(관리자)'s Expert Column
- Cold-Related Illness Preparatory Checklist | Cold-Weather Items · Rest Areas · Working Hours · Sensitive Groups
- EAP User Experience Anonymous Feedback Questionnaire | Check Service Quality Without Consultation Details
- What Comes After Mental Health Day Is More Important | How to Turn Employee Feedback into EAP Improvement Tasks
Most Engaging Posts in the Community
- 0120026.10.23
- 0230026.10.23
- 0330026.10.23
- 01coach AnswerHello, this is Nudge EAP ☺️ You should group tasks based on whether the actual work type and conditions are the same, rather than the process name. Tasks can be considered the same if the worker posture, number of repetitions and time, handling weight and frequency, movement, and equipment and tools are similar. Therefore, even within the same assembly process, it is better to separate "seated assembly" and "standing assembly while moving materials" into separate tasks. First, list the detailed tasks within the process and compare them using the criteria above; separating only the tasks with significant differences makes organization easier, even with a large workforce. If there are multiple tasks under the same conditions, you can select a representative sample that includes the worker with the highest workload. The KOSHA guide suggests using at least two tasks with high work intensity as a sample when there are 10 or fewer identical tasks. Shifts can be grouped together if the equipment, workload, speed, and personnel are the same, but if the conditions differ, please separate them by shift. For rotation workers, you can make a judgment by recording all detailed tasks performed during the day, along with the time and frequency of each. For the final classification, confirm the opinions of on-site workers, and if you record the basis for the grouping on the survey form, it will be easier to explain during inspections.753326.09.18
- 02CommentsThe distinction between receiving a report and reaching a conclusion is important. Global HR teams should secure immediate protection and confidentiality before trying to decide whether the conduct legally qualifies as harassment.744426.09.02
- 03coach AnswerHello, this is Nudge EAP.☺️ The simplest method is for employees to simply receive guidance and apply directly, as the company does not transfer personal information. If you want a health manager to forward a name and contact information to an EAP agency for contact, it is safer to explain the receiving agency, purpose, items, retention period, and the right to refuse consent, and to obtain clear consent from the individual. Since checkup results and symptoms are sensitive health information, do not consider them included in the existing health checkup consent; instead, please write down only the content to be conveyed and obtain separate consent. In practice, it is common to separate the options into ① consent for forwarding name and contact information and ② consent for forwarding checkup results and symptoms, ensuring that there is no disadvantage in using the EAP even if the second option is not agreed to. The burden of repeating explanations can be reduced by providing the option for employees to send a summary of their consultation request, written directly by the employee, to the agency. However, since the wording and procedures may vary depending on whether the contract with the EAP agency involves the outsourcing of personal information processing or the provision of information to a third party, please review the contract details with your in-house personal information manager before implementation. It is a good idea to define the scope of responses in advance to the company to prevent unnecessary feedback regarding consultation requests or their content.718926.09.21
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08
- 09
- 10
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08
- 09
- 10