143 Ladder Fall Deaths in 3 Years... Three out of Four in Construction and Facility Management Industries

12 People Increased in Last 4 Months... Government Says "Wear Safety Helmets and Work Below 3.5m"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] It has been revealed that 143 workers have died while working on ladders over the past three years. The number surged to 12 in the last four months. With the Serious Accidents Punishment Act just over a month away, the government urged the industry to strictly follow safety rules such as wearing helmets and working at heights below 3.5 meters.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency disclosed these figures on the 2nd and urged the industry to take industrial safety and health measures. Ladder-related fatal accidents have been increasing with 1 in August, 2 in September, 5 in October, and 4 last month. By year, there were 45 in 2018, 43 in 2019, 30 last year, and 25 from January to September this year. Ladders rank fifth among industrial equipment with the highest number of fatal accidents.

By industry, construction and facility management accounted for 74% (106 people) of the total fatalities. This is because these industries frequently use ladders during work processes. Specifically, there were 86 in construction, 20 in facility management, 17 in manufacturing, and 20 in other sectors. By business size, small-scale construction sites with project amounts under 1 billion KRW accounted for 72% (62 people) of construction industry fatalities. In small businesses with fewer than 30 workers, 89% (51 people) of ladder accidents occurred outside the construction industry.

By work type, 71.3% (102 people) of falls occurred while performing equipment installation and dismantling (construction) or equipment inspection (building management) at high ladder positions. Falls from heights below 3.5 meters accounted for 65.7% (94 people). Fatal accidents from heights below 2 meters accounted for 22% (31 people) of the total.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor emphasized that to prevent ladder-related fatal accidents, in narrow spaces with flat floors where scaffolding installation is difficult, A-frame ladders should be used with helmets worn, and work above 3.5 meters or at the topmost part should be prohibited, following safety work guidelines. Additionally, the ministry announced plans to establish and release new ladder manufacturing standards, including the 'Safety Certification Notice for Protective Devices,' by January next year.

Kwon Ki-seop, head of the Industrial Safety and Health Bureau at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, said, "Even at low heights, ignoring safety measures can lead to fatal accidents at any time," and stressed, "With the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act approaching, employers and workers must review and improve workplace hazards." He added, "Please strictly adhere to safety rules such as wearing helmets and working at heights below 3.5 meters when using ladders."