Lotte E&C Bolsters Worker Safety With AI Health Checks and Tougher Site Rules

Smartphone App Tracks Workers’ Vital Signs in Push for Safer Job Sites (Image courtesy of Lotte E&C)

SEOUL, Aug. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — Lotte Engineering & Construction said Thursday it has stepped up workplace safety measures in line with the government’s newly announced “12 Core Safety Rules,” rolling out technology and policies aimed at protecting laborers in one of South Korea’s most accident-prone industries.

The company has developed what it calls the construction sector’s first non-contact biometric monitoring app, set to be deployed across all sites in September. Using a smartphone camera, the app detects subtle facial color changes caused by heartbeats, allowing it to measure pulse, blood pressure, fever and oxygen saturation in under 15 seconds.

The data is automatically recorded, enabling more efficient oversight of older workers and those with underlying health conditions.

Vice Chairman Park Hyun-chul has also introduced stricter on-site inspections, personally visiting sites each month. Alongside regular checks and staff consultations, Park has ordered surprise inspections without prior notice, with immediate remedial measures and budget allocations when hazards are found.

The company has revamped worker rest areas with air-conditioning, cold drinks and snacks, while redesigning the spaces to feel more inviting.

In addition, it has adopted harsher heat-protection measures: outdoor work is now suspended when temperatures exceed 35 degrees Celsius, tougher than the government’s 38-degree cutoff. Lotte is also following labor ministry guidelines requiring guaranteed rest periods during heat waves.

A company spokesperson said the initiatives reflect a “family-first” approach. “We are strengthening inspections and safety systems with measures that directly benefit workers. Our goal is to ensure employees can work in safe environments as if they were our own family,” the official said.

Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)