HD Hyundai Heavy Industries runs “Hwachae de CEO,” a mobile snack truck event providing refreshments during the heat wave. Photo courtesy of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries
With a full-blown heat wave continuing, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has launched a company-wide response to prevent heat-related illnesses and protect the health of workers on-site.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries said on the 13th that it is running a mobile snack cart event called “Hwachae de CEO,” a customized snack support program for the hot summer season. “Hwachae de CEO” is a name that wittily combines the French preposition “de” (of), giving it the meaning “hwachae prepared by the CEO,” with the pronunciation of the Korean phrase “hwachae deuseyo” (please have some hwachae).
The event will be held a total of 44 times through early September. During each afternoon break at 3 p.m., executives and department heads will visit major work sites to provide a total of 44,000 bowls (1,000 bowls per session) of cool fruit punch. Recently, Lee Sang-gyun, President and Vice Chairman of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, personally visited the production site to hand out hwachae to employees and deliver messages of encouragement.
In addition to the snack support, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has significantly strengthened its heat-illness prevention measures to ensure workers get sufficient rest.
The company is currently operating more than 270 rest facilities across the shipyard, on ships, and in cabins, an expansion from last year. In addition to mobile bus-type rest facilities, it has installed various forms of rest spaces throughout the site, including simple shelters, shade canopies, and Mongolian tents, improving accessibility for workers.
Also, during the peak hot season running from July 10 to August 31, the lunch break will be extended by 30 minutes. When the perceived temperature rises above 33 degrees, additional rest periods are granted to help workers recover sufficiently.
Beyond this, the company is expanding its operation of cooling equipment such as ice makers, spot coolers, ventilation fans, and portable air conditioners, while also providing essential hot-season supplies including ice water, salt-glucose tablets, air jackets, and fan vests without disruption. For proactive safety management, it is also continuously conducting education on heat-illness prevention rules and monitoring workers’ health conditions.
“We are continuing multifaceted support so that on-site employees can work safely and healthily even in the sweltering weather,” an official from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries said. “Going forward, we will further strengthen practical, site-focused heat-wave responses and safety management activities.”