The Tripartite Commission Launches the Occupational Safety and Health Committee Before the Enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act

Enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act on January 27 Next Year... Seeking Solutions
Chairman Kang Seong-gyu "Establishing Efficient Measures to Reduce Industrial Accidents"

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Economic, Social and Labor Council, a presidential advisory social dialogue body, announced on the 17th the launch of the 'Industrial Safety and Health Committee for the Prevention of Serious Accidents.'

The Industrial Safety and Health Committee was established to check the preparation status of industrial sites ahead of the enforcement of the Serious Accident Punishment Act on January 27 next year and to seek ways to harmonize worker safety and corporate management. Kang Sung-gyu, dean of the Graduate School of Public Health at Gachon University, will serve as the chairman. The committee consists of a total of 15 members: the chairman, three labor representatives, three management representatives, three government representatives, and five public interest members. The operation period is one year.

Chairman Kang said, "We plan to focus on preparing serious accident prevention measures for small and medium-sized enterprises, which are vulnerable to industrial accidents," and added, "We will strive to establish effective measures to reduce industrial accidents."

The Serious Accident Punishment Act stipulates that employers and management responsible for causing serious industrial accidents by failing to fulfill safety and health obligations shall be subject to imprisonment of one year or more or a fine of up to 1 billion won. Serious industrial accidents refer to industrial accidents in which one or more deaths occur, two or more injuries requiring treatment for six months or longer, or three or more occupational diseases occur within one year.