34 Elevator Construction Workers Dead Over 5 Years
Work Allowed Outside Elevator Passage... Reduced Fall Risk
Government Urges "Active Use of Dedicated Scaffolding" On Site
[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government announced on the 27th that it has developed the first-ever elevator work system scaffolding in Korea to prevent elevator fall accidents among workers. Scaffolding refers to temporary work platforms necessary for structure installation.
According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, they collaborated with private elevator manufacturers such as Hyundai, TK, Otis, Mitsubishi, and system scaffolding manufacturers like Eunjin Industry to develop dedicated scaffolding. On the same day, they held a 'Demonstration of Elevator Installation System Scaffolding Development' at a construction site in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
Every year, 6 to 8 fatal accidents occur at elevator construction sites. After two years of research and development to prevent recurring fall accidents at elevator construction sites, they succeeded in developing the system.
By using the newly developed dedicated scaffolding, workers can install and work by stepping on work platforms installed outside the elevator shaft. Previously, workers had to enter the narrow elevator shaft to assemble steel pipe scaffolding and install work platforms.
Park Hwajin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, said, "We ask construction companies, elevator manufacturers, and installation companies to pay special attention and cooperate so that the dedicated scaffolding can be used at all construction sites involving elevator work." He added, "We will disclose the dedicated scaffolding development technology to the private sector free of charge and support its active use at construction sites through financial projects."
Park Duyong, Director of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, also stated, "We will actively invest to develop second and third customized safety equipment linked to demand that companies and workers want."
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