On April 9 (Wednesday), the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) are to focus on preventing accidents on construction sites, in observance of the 7th Site Insepction Day. This initiative comes in response to a recent surge in fatal accidents in the construction sector, particularly those involving falls, collapses, and fires.
In light of the situations, the MOEL will conduct surprise inspections and supervisions on construction sites that are identified by regional employment and labor offices and where falls, collapses, and fire accidents are highly likely to occur. In full compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act, violations will be subject to administrative and legal actions, and inspectors will rigorously verify and supervise adherence to key safety protocols for each type of accident.
Further, fire safety measures at worksites, particularly during welding and flame-cutting, will be inspected thoroughly, and additional safety guidance will be thoroughly provided at post-disaster restoration sites, such as those in Andong, Uiseong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, Yeongdeok (northern Gyeongsang), Sancheong, Hadong (southern Gyeongsang), and Ulju (Ulsan), to prevent secondary damage.
Tae-ho Choi, Director of Industrial Accident Prevention and Supervision, emphasized, "Throughout the month of April, we will be prioritizing safety supervision in the construction industry where fatal accidents are occurring most commonly. It is crucial to preemptively monitor risk factors associated with falls, collapses, and fire accidents and to immediately address any identified hazards on construction sites to prevent accidents."