Ministry of Employment Analyzes 1,073 Industrial Accident Deaths Over 5 Years During 3 Months Around Chuseok
3.22 Deaths in Chuseok Month... Higher Than 3.1 in Previous Month and 2.55 in Following Month
Falls Account for 1.31 Deaths... Minister An Kyung-duk Cites "Neglect of Safety Measures Before Holidays"
5th On-Site Inspection Day... 184 Defective Workplaces Detected, 160 Reported
[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] It has been revealed that the number of industrial accident fatalities during the month with the Chuseok holiday over the past five years was 3.22. This was higher than the previous month (3.1) and the following month (2.55). The government views this as a result of neglecting safety measures while rushing to complete work before the holiday and issued a 'Serious Accident Risk Alert for Chuseok Holiday Preparation.'
On the 12th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced an analysis of 1,073 fatal accident cases that occurred within three months before and after the Chuseok holiday over the past five years. The investigation found that 3.22 people died in the month with the Chuseok holiday, which was more than 3.1 in the previous month and 2.55 in the following month.
In particular, the number of fatalities increased as the Chuseok holiday approached. Before Chuseok, the closer to the day of Chuseok, the more deaths occurred (12 people 4 days before → 21 people 3 days before), and after the day, the number of deaths increased as days passed (7 people one day after → 15 people two days after → 19 people six days after). Accordingly, the government plans to intensify management by making patrol inspections (random checks) regular during the period before and after the Chuseok holiday.
The government emphasized that reducing industrial accident fatalities requires a combination of voluntary efforts by labor and management and government support.
Labor and management were encouraged to strictly adhere to basic rules such as ▲wearing personal protective equipment ▲installing safety railings and protective fences ▲establishing management procedures for irregular work ▲assigning work supervisors during hazardous tasks. The Ministry of Employment and Labor also stated that it will guide large companies to quickly establish safety and health management systems and continue technical guidance and financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Minister of Employment and Labor Ahn Kyung-deok said, "As work tends to be busier than usual before the Chuseok holiday, safety measures may be neglected," adding, "From today until the end of this month, there is a high possibility of an increase in fatal accidents, so special attention and caution from employers and workers are necessary."
The Ministry of Employment and Labor also disclosed the results of the '5th On-site Inspection Day' conducted on the 8th. They conducted a nationwide simultaneous inspection and supervision of about 2,400 workplaces (2,021 inspection sites, 446 supervision sites).
Among them, 184 sites (9.1%) with potential industrial accident risks were classified as hazardous workplaces (poor workplaces) and will be subject to random supervision. Of the approximately 440 sites that underwent supervision (focused on administrative and judicial actions), 160 sites (35.9%) that violated safety principles are currently under investigation (judicial action). It was reported that workplaces were caught for consistently negligent actions such as arbitrarily disabling protective measures installed on industrial robots.
Minister Ahn said, "Even after the 5th nationwide inspection on the 8th, many workplaces still did not comply with the three major safety measures (fall and entrapment prevention measures, wearing personal protective equipment)," and added, "Even in cases where judicial action was taken through supervision, inspections and supervision will be repeated until basic safety measures are improved."
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