Hyundai Construction "Preventing Major Accidents... Safety Management Costs Expanded Significantly to 100 Billion Won"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] Hyundai Engineering & Construction has established the 'Industrial Safety Management Enhancement Plan' to prevent major accidents and has reorganized safety organizations and systems at all domestic and overseas sites. Investment in safety management costs has also been significantly expanded to 100 billion KRW.

On the 26th, Hyundai Engineering & Construction stated, "The Industrial Safety Management Enhancement Plan includes four key elements: 'innovation in safety personnel operation, expansion of safety cost investment, expansion of smart safety technologies, and innovation in safety awareness,'" adding, "The purpose is to prioritize site safety and prevent major accidents in advance."

Hyundai Engineering & Construction has made safety managers regular employees. This is to shift from operating personnel on a site-by-site basis to a headquarters-centered safety management system. The currently operating Safety Monitoring Team (Safety Keepers) will also have their authority significantly expanded, including the right to stop hazardous work, to prevent major accidents in advance.

External safety expert advisors will also be appointed to innovate the safety management system. It is mandatory for site managers to obtain safety certifications, with a goal to secure 1,000 safety experts by 2025.

Safety management costs will also be expanded to over 100 billion KRW. The dedicated safety inspection organization will be expanded, and the '365 Safety Patrol,' a permanent organization for safety inspections and education, will also be expanded. The Win-Win Growth Fund, which contributed 15 billion KRW until last year, will add an additional 10 billion KRW this year, supporting a total of 25 billion KRW in safety management investments for partner companies.

Smart safety technology will be introduced and spread across all sites, and safety management using 4th Industrial Revolution smart technologies will be strengthened. By utilizing IoT, big data, etc., potential hazards at sites will be identified and eliminated in advance, establishing a foundation for rapid initial response. Smart tags will be attached to safety helmets to track workers' movements and minimize blind spots in site safety management. Cameras will be attached to construction equipment such as tower cranes to monitor the equipment surroundings and work areas, control worker access, and prevent crush accidents in advance.

Regular safety workshops chaired by top management will be held, and to promote safety awareness at sites, continuous safety resolution meetings will be conducted along with safety inspections at all sites.

Park Dong-wook, President of Hyundai Engineering & Construction, said, "We have established this Industrial Safety Management Enhancement Plan to further strive for site management that prioritizes site safety," adding, "Going forward, Hyundai Engineering & Construction will take direct responsibility for site safety, promote safety awareness among all employees to prevent major accidents, and strengthen safety management systems for partner companies."