Industrial Accidents: Korail 382 Cases, Subsidiaries 222 Cases, Contracted Construction 199 Cases
Sharp Increase in Accidents at Subsidiaries Including Korail Tech
Assemblyman Hong Gi-won: "Systematic Safety Management Focused on the Field Is Needed to Prevent Regrettable Accidents"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] Over the past six years, a total of 14 people have died and 789 have been injured in industrial accidents related to Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail), averaging about 13 people per month.
According to the 'Industrial Accident Occurrence Status' data submitted by Korail to Assemblyman Hong Gi-won of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea on the 28th, from 2017 to August 2022, industrial accidents related to Korail were ▲Korail 382 cases (374 injuries, 8 deaths) ▲Subsidiaries 222 cases (injuries) ▲Contracted construction 199 cases (193 injuries, 6 deaths).
By year, the number of industrial accidents increased with 108 cases (6 deaths) in 2017, 137 cases (3 deaths) in 2018, 155 cases (2 deaths) in 2019, 140 cases (1 death) in 2020, and 164 cases (2 deaths) in 2021.
Korail’s injury accidents have not decreased, with 67 cases in 2018, 76 cases in 2019, 65 cases in 2020, and 68 cases in 2021. As of August this year, an additional 57 injury cases have occurred.
By cause, the accidents were ▲caught in/between 72 cases (19%) ▲falls 70 cases (18%) ▲collisions 55 cases (14%) ▲struck by objects 53 cases (14%) in order.
Industrial accidents at subsidiaries have also increased annually. Industrial accidents at five subsidiaries including Korail Tech rose more than threefold from 17 cases in 2017 to 58 cases in 2021, with ‘falls’ accounting for nearly half at 94 cases.
Among the 222 subsidiary industrial accidents, about 57%, or 127 cases, occurred at Korail Tech, which is responsible for maintenance of railway vehicles and facilities. Assemblyman Hong Gi-won explained, "It was confirmed that the increase in accidents was due to workforce expansion following the extension of environmental services such as railway vehicle cleaning in 2019." Of the 34 subsidiary industrial accidents this year, 21 occurred at Korail Tech.
Industrial accidents in Korail’s contracted construction decreased from 45 cases in 2017 and 2018 to 34 cases in 2019 and 30 cases in 2020, but rose again to 37 cases in 2021. The main causes were ▲falls 56 cases (28%) ▲trips/falls 29 cases (15%) ▲caught in/between 22 cases (11%).
Assemblyman Hong Gi-won emphasized, "Systematic on-site inspections are necessary to prevent repeated accidents caused by inadequate basic management such as securing safe pathways and fall prevention measures," adding, "Although these accidents are preventable, thorough preventive measures must be established to ensure that workers do not tragically collapse due to careless management."
Meanwhile, Korail received a grade 4 (insufficient) in the 2021 Safety Management Grade Evaluation announced by the Ministry of Economy and Finance in May, due to concerns about practical safety management at the field level. The safety management grading system consists of five levels, with grade 5 being the lowest.
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