As Japan braces for another summer of , the health ministry has decided to make businesses that fail to take heatstroke countermeasures criminally liable.

Changes to a ministry ordinance on heatstroke will require companies to create a set of protocols to spot workers suffering from heatstroke while on duty, offer first aid and transport them to hospitals immediately when necessary.

The changes, approved Wednesday by an expert panel on labor policy, will take effect in June. Violators will be punishable with up to six months＊ imprisonment or a maximum fine of ?500,000 ($3,380).

The new rule will cover people working in an environment with a wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index of 28 〞 or an atmospheric temperature of 31 degrees Celsius 〞 for over one hour, or a total of four hours or more within a day.

WBGT takes into account not only temperatures but also humidity and solar radiation. The number of heatstroke patients is known to rise sharply after the WBGT index exceeds 28.

The ministry＊s move comes as the risk of heatstroke, , continues to rise due to climate change.

Early response is seen as particularly important.

Of the 103 cases of workplace heatstroke deaths reported in Japan in 2020-23, 100 were attributed to a delayed response to early symptoms such as staggering, headaches, massive sweating and convulsions, according to the ministry.

The number of people who became sick from heat illnesses stood at a record high of 1,195 last year, with 30 deaths. People working in construction, manufacturing and transport industries as well as those working as security and traffic guards 〞 many of whom are aging and at higher risk of health hazards from extreme heat 〞 have been found most vulnerable.

The World Meteorological Organization warns last year＊s record-breaking heat is likely to continue this year.

Japan also had its warmest year on record last year. The Meteorological Agency said the average temperature across the nation was 1.48 C higher than that of the past 30 years.