Burning 360 Tons a Day... "We Can't Leave" Even at 57°C (135°F)

[Anchor]

Amidst a relentless heatwave where sweat pours effortlessly, there are people working in front of even more intense heat.

Reporter Jeong Jiyeon met with workers guarding their workplaces while fully suited in protective gear that wraps around their entire bodies.

[Reporter]

This is a resource and environment center that burns 360 tons of household waste every day to produce heat for district heating and electrical energy.

Fueled by incinerator heat exceeding 850°C (1562°F), indoor workplace temperatures reach up to 57°C (135°F), while the surface temperature of pipes marked with "High Temperature Warning" rises to around 70°C (158°F).

To inspect the facilities, workers must wear dust suits like this.

After walking around in it for about an hour, my face was completely soaked with sweat.

In winter, workers could take off their dust suits and briefly step out of the workplace to cool down, but during a heatwave like this summer, going outside is just as agonizing.

The use of cooling equipment is also restricted to prevent condensation from forming water droplets that obstruct vision.

Even the first basement level, considered the coolest area at the workplace, exceeds 36°C (97°F).

[Kim Min-yeon / Manager, Incineration Facility Operation Team: This is the coolest place here on-site. The upper levels are so hot that even if you wear a cooling vest, hot air blows in....]

The surface temperature of welding workstations where sparks fly easily exceeds 100°C (212°F).

Air conditioners are turned on, but sweat quickly beads up on the welder's forehead.

The temperature inside this open workplace exceeded 38°C (100°F).

Combined with the heat from welding, workers experience an even more extreme level of heat.

Having to constantly wear long-sleeved clothing makes summer even more difficult.

[Kim Young-guk / CEO, Metal Processing Product Manufacturer: Because of the welding light, we have to wear thick clothes. Otherwise, the welding light penetrates into the body and causes burns all over.]

Although the government provides cooling devices such as portable air conditioners for heat-vulnerable facilities like welding workshops, this summer's heatwave feels hotter to them than to anyone else.

(Photo & Video Reporting: Choi Dae-woong, Lee Sang-hak | Video Editing: Kim Yoon-sung | Design: Han Heung-soo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.