Gwahak Gisul Jeongbo Tongsinbu urges heat safeguards for postal workers

Gwahak Gisul Jeongbo Tongsinbu said Second Vice Minister Ryu Je-myung joined postal workers on deliveries in Cheongju, urging use of their work-stoppage right when an extreme-heat emergency alert is issued.

He visited the Cheongju Post Office, assisting workers, encouraging carriers who continued to deliver mail in record heat, and reviewing summer safety measures on site.

The ministry said heat waves have continued this summer. It said the Korea Meteorological Administration's extreme-heat emergency alert system uses an apparent-temperature threshold of 38 degrees Celsius.

"Because postal workers spend most of their day outdoors, they cannot avoid being sensitive to weather conditions such as heat waves," Ryu said.

Ryu inspected delivery-volume adjustments by heat-alert severity and measures to minimize outdoor work during heat-vulnerable hours. The measures also call for cooling supplies and drinking water to remain available at all times, plus emergency responses to heat-related illness.

Korea Post is operating a special safety and health management period from June 1 through Oct. 2 to prepare for weather conditions including heat waves and heavy rain.