66 Workers Trapped and Killed by Lifts Over 9 Years... Safety Detection Standards Revised

"Top 100 Construction Companies Must Equip All Railings with Overlift Detection Devices"
Despite Punitive Regulations, Industrial Accidents Continue, Prompting System Improvements

Construction lift on the 78th floor of Lotte World Tower. (Photo by Asia Economy DB)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government is strengthening standards to enable pressure detection on all railings (points) of lifts (scissor-type aerial work platforms). Despite existing punishment regulations and preventive devices, the government is initiating system improvements as backward industrial accident cases, where the work platform suddenly jumps causing workers to get caught, have repeatedly occurred. In particular, the Ministry of Employment and Labor urged the top 100 construction companies to "pioneeringly use aerial work platforms that can detect over-elevation on all railings" and plans to inspect lift usage plans and protective performance at sites throughout this month.

Source: Ministry of Employment and Labor

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 13th, 66 workers have died trapped in lifts over the past nine years from 2012 to last year. On average, 8.6 people die each year, with as many as 13 deaths last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and already three deaths this year. The problem is that accidents continue to occur due to the same cause. According to the Ministry, the fatal lift accidents that occurred consecutively on the 19th at a reconstruction site in Seoul and on the 23rd at an electrical construction site in Yesan, Chungnam, were caused by the work platform suddenly rising. Although there is an 'over-elevation prevention device,' accidents happened because it was left disengaged during work.

Source: Ministry of Employment and Labor

According to Articles 38 and 167 of the Industrial Safety and Health Act, if a fatal industrial accident occurs due to inadequate equipment, the employer can be sentenced to up to seven years in prison or fined up to 100 million won, but the Ministry of Employment and Labor judges that the law is not properly enforced on site. Lifts are hazardous machinery that require the installation of protective devices and the establishment of work plans. They are mainly used indoors and are considered a primary cause of entrapment accidents.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has decided to promptly revise safety certification standards. Pressure will be detected on all railings of the work platform, and the platform will be adjusted at a sufficiently safe speed so that workers can detect dangers in advance during work. Together with the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, accident cases and methods for installing and using aerial work platforms will be guided and distributed to construction companies and rental companies. Lifts will be included in safety inspections to continuously check the maintenance of safety devices during use. Additionally, the government will encourage improvements by fully supporting the installation costs of protective devices for employers owning work platforms such as rental companies.

Kim Gyuseok, Director of the Industrial Accident Prevention and Compensation Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, emphasized, "If the prescribed work methods are not followed when using machinery and equipment, the equipment can threaten workers' lives at any time. For aerial work platforms used in high and narrow hazardous locations, check the operation of protective devices such as over-elevation prevention devices before work, and observe basic safety measures such as wearing safety harnesses during work."

Source: Ministry of Employment and Labor