As record-breaking heatwaves become more common across the world, protecting people who work outdoors is becoming a major challenge. Construction workers, factory employees, road maintenance crews and warehouse staff often spend long hours under extreme temperatures, increasing their risk of heat stress and heatstroke.
To tackle this growing problem, Japan has introduced an innovative solution that looks straight out of the future. A Japanese company has developed a walk-in cooling booth that many are calling a "human refrigerator." Officially named the Do Reimon Box, the device is designed to cool the human body in just a few minutes, offering quick relief during hot summer days.
Instead of cooling an entire room like traditional air conditioning, the booth targets the body's key cooling points, making it faster and more energy-efficient. As global temperatures continue to rise, this unusual invention is attracting attention far beyond Japan.
What is Japan's 'human refrigerator'?
The Do Reimon Box has been created by Japanese industrial supplier TRUSCO Nakayama Corporation. It is a compact, stainless-steel cooling booth designed for one person at a time.
Users simply step inside, sit on the chair provided and close the door behind them for a short cooling session. The unit works as a portable cooling station that can be installed at construction sites, factories, warehouses and other workplaces without requiring permanent installation or expensive infrastructure.
The goal is simple: help workers recover from extreme heat before returning to their jobs.
How does the Do Reimon Box cool the body so quickly?
The technology behind the Do Reimon Box focuses on cooling the body where it matters most.
Inside the cabin, the air temperature is maintained at around 15°C, while powerful jets of chilled air cooled to nearly 5°C are directed at the neck, head and back. These parts of the body play a key role in regulating body temperature, helping users cool down much faster than they would in an ordinary air-conditioned room.
According to the company, spending five to ten minutes inside the booth is generally enough to provide noticeable relief from heat.
To ensure safety, every cooling session is automatically limited to 20 minutes, preventing users from becoming too cold.
Why did Japan develop this cooling booth?
Japan has witnessed increasingly intense summers in recent years, with temperatures frequently reaching dangerous levels.
Every year, thousands of people are hospitalised with heatstroke, and outdoor workers remain among the most vulnerable groups. Employees in construction, manufacturing, logistics and road maintenance often have limited access to air-conditioned environments during work hours.
The Do Reimon Box has been designed specifically to reduce this risk by giving workers a fast and convenient way to lower their body temperature during scheduled breaks.
However, experts note that the booth is not intended to replace hydration, rest or medical treatment. Instead, it serves as an additional workplace safety measure against extreme heat.
Inspired by frozen food technology
One of the most interesting aspects of Japan's "human refrigerator" is where the idea came from.
Engineers adapted the refrigeration systems normally used in frozen food vending machines and transformed the technology into a human-sized cooling booth.
Despite delivering intense cooling, the system has been engineered to remain comfortable and safe for short-term use.
The booth runs on a standard 100-volt power supply, features built-in casters for easy movement and requires no permanent installation. That makes it suitable for temporary work sites, industrial facilities and outdoor projects.
Could personal cooling booths become more common?
As climate change contributes to longer and more severe heatwaves, companies around the world are searching for better ways to protect employees working outdoors.
Traditional air conditioning is not always practical on construction sites or open industrial areas. Portable cooling stations like the Do Reimon Box could offer an effective alternative by allowing workers to cool down quickly without leaving the worksite.
Although the device is not a treatment for heatstroke, it represents a new approach to managing workplace heat exposure and reducing the risks associated with extreme temperatures.
Why the Do Reimon Box is attracting global attention
Japan's "human refrigerator" stands out because it addresses one of the fastest-growing workplace safety challenges caused by climate change.
By delivering targeted cooling in just a few minutes, the Do Reimon Box offers a practical solution for industries where employees cannot simply move indoors when temperatures soar.
As countries continue to experience hotter summers and more frequent heatwaves, innovations like this may become an increasingly familiar sight at workplaces around the world, helping workers stay safer while performing physically demanding jobs in extreme heat.
(With TOI inputs)
