THE Japanese government looks set to broaden the legal definition of
karoshi鈥攄eath through overwork.
The concept of karoshi was established in the 1970s after lengthy battles for
compensation by the families of young men who had died of heart attacks or
strokes after working excessive hours. One recent victim, 24-year-old Ichiro
Oshima, had sometimes worked until 6 am and only had time to change clothes
before returning to work. Around 40 claims for compensation are now filed in
Japan every year, mostly by the widows of victims. But courts often reject
claims because the health ministry鈥檚 definition of karoshi is so narrow.
At present, Japanese courts only take into account the work patterns of
victims in the week before their death. But a research group led by Osamu Wada
of Saitama Medical School has concluded that factors such as stress, business
travel and lack of sleep should also be included, and that they should be
considered over a much longer period, up to six months prior to death.
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Wada鈥檚 group, set up by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, discovered a
strong correlation between karoshi and excessive overtime in the three months
prior to death. People who worked more than 100 hours鈥� overtime in the final
month and more than 80 hours per month in the previous five months were far more
likely to die.
Other factors that can lead to karoshi include irregular working hours, the
number and length of business trips, and excessive temperature and noise in the
workplace, the group says. The Ministry of Health says it will announce new
standards next month, taking into account the group鈥檚 recommendations.