Tokyo, Japan (Enmaeya News) — As Japan experiences its hottest days on record, with Tokyo temperatures topping 35 degrees Celsius in early July, companies are taking new steps to protect outdoor workers from heatstroke.

The government has issued heatstroke alerts in 30 of the country’s 47 prefectures and introduced new labor safety regulations. The rules require employers to provide breathable clothing, shaded or air-conditioned rest areas, and sun-blocking structures to mitigate heat exposure.

The measures come amid a rise in heat-related workplace illnesses and deaths. Nearly 20% of heatstroke cases in 2023 occurred among construction workers, according to government data — a sharp increase compared with a decade ago.

One company, Daito Trust Construction, has equipped 1,500 of its workers with “air-conditioned jackets” — puffed vests featuring built-in fans and thermoelectric cooling technology — at a Tokyo apartment building site.

“When I wear this vest, I don't sweat as much, so I don't lose physical strength,” said Atsushi Mizutani, 47, a site worker. Another worker, 57-year-old Takami Okamura, said the gear is now essential. “In the past ... there weren't as many cases of people collapsing … as there are now,” he said.

As Japan confronts intensifying summer heatwaves, companies are adopting new technologies and safety protocols in a broader shift to safeguard workers in increasingly hazardous conditions.