[Unofficial translation provided by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

“S. Korean Court rules temperature and humidity should be assessed considering work attire and proximity to hot products, not just workplace environment measurements”, 9 August 2024

South Korean court has acknowledged the death of a production worker from a brain hemorrhage in a hot, humid, and noisy food factory as an occupational accident. Notably, the court determined that the actual temperature and humidity experienced by the worker, who was wearing protective clothing and a hood, were significantly higher than the workplace measurements.

…Kim's family claimed that his death was work-related and sought survivor's benefits. However, the factory argued that the death was not connected to work conditions…

…The court sided with the family, stating, "The temperature and humidity in the workplace must have been much higher than the recorded measurements." The court further emphasized, "The deceased was working next to a line of hot products while wearing hygiene clothes and a hood, leading to a much higher perceived temperature and humidity than the measurements suggest.”…