Joint inspection at 393 locations... 83 sites found with violations
Focused checks on illegal subcontracting, hazardous materials storage and handling compliance, etc.
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced on the 18th that it has identified violations through a planned investigation to prevent large-scale fires at construction sites and has taken 139 administrative actions.
The Fire and Disaster Headquarters initiated the planned investigation on construction sites to prevent large-scale fires like the one that occurred at a Pyeongtaek construction site in January and to strengthen the social safety net through strict law enforcement. The investigation, conducted from mid-February to the end of April, involved a joint crackdown team composed of Fire and Disaster Headquarters and frontline fire station personnel, targeting 393 construction sites in Seoul with a total floor area of 5,000㎡ or more.
Through the planned investigation, the Fire and Disaster Headquarters focused on confirming violations such as illegal subcontracting under the Fire Facilities Construction Business Act, the legality of hazardous materials storage and handling, and other fire facility safety management violations at each site. As a result, violations were found at 83 sites, equivalent to one out of every five targeted construction sites, leading to 15 cases of indictment, 71 fines, and 10 notifications to relevant agencies, totaling 139 administrative measures.
The main violations included operating without registering as a fire facility business, illegal subcontracting during fire facility construction, and storing or handling hazardous materials beyond the designated quantities. For example, at construction site A, company B, which did not have a fire facility construction business license, signed a contract to subcontract all processes including fire facilities. Subsequently, company B also subcontracted again to company C, which also lacked a fire facility construction business license, resulting in detection during the crackdown.
At construction site D, more than 2.7 times the designated quantity of hazardous materials such as thinner was stored and piled on-site without temporary approval from the local fire station, violating the Hazardous Materials Safety Control Act. According to the Fire Facilities Construction Business Act, revised and enforced on September 10, 2020, building owners must separate fire facility construction from other types of construction when subcontracting. Violations of this regulation are subject to fines of up to 3 million KRW.
Meanwhile, over the past three years (2019?2021), 131 fires have occurred at construction sites in Seoul, resulting in 12 casualties including 2 deaths, and property damage amounting to 1.3 billion KRW. Jeong Gyo-cheol, the on-site response team leader, stated, “We conducted the investigation to prevent fires at construction sites and to ensure the quality of fire facility construction. We will continue unannounced crackdowns along with providing legal guidance to improve awareness among stakeholders to secure safety.”
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