KOSHA Elevates Gwangju Apartment Collapse Task Force to 'Crisis Response Headquarters'

Chairman An Jong-ju Directly Commands ‥ Swift On-Site Support and Thorough Investigation of Accident Causes

On the 18th, firefighters are searching for missing persons by deploying search equipment through the collapsed debris at the Hwajeong I-Park collapse accident site in Hwajeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju. [Image source=Fire Department]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency has elevated the emergency response committee to a "Crisis Response Headquarters" led by the agency's president in relation to the collapse accident at the apartment construction site in Hwajeong-dong, Gwangju.

On the 23rd, the Safety and Health Agency announced that it will organize and operate central and local crisis response headquarters for prompt accident response, on-site recovery support, and accident cause investigation.

The agency had formed an industrial accident emergency response committee immediately after the accident and had been operating it since the 11th, but following the Ministry of Employment and Labor's formation of an accident recovery headquarters, it decided to elevate the current emergency committee to a crisis response headquarters for swift action.

The agency has formed and operated a tower crane dismantling expert group to safely dismantle the tower crane, which poses a serious risk to the search and rescue of buried workers.

They are focusing on securing safety management of the dismantling work by reviewing risks and establishing on-site safety measures for each step and procedure.

Ahn Jong-joo, president of the Safety and Health Agency, said, "Above all, we will devote all efforts to supporting the removal of the tower crane for rapid rescue activities, and at the same time, cooperate with related organizations such as the Ministry of Employment and Labor to establish a comprehensive accident cause investigation and recurrence prevention measures."