Formation of Industrial Accident Recovery Headquarters
Dispatch of Labor Inspectors to Accident Site to Ascertain Circumstances
SGC E-Tech Construction Supervises Nationwide Construction Sites
Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jeong-sik speaking at the Emergency Economic Ministers' Meeting held on the morning of the 19th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. (Photo by Yonhap News)
[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Lee Jeongsik, Minister of Employment and Labor, visited the site of a logistics warehouse accident in Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, where 2 workers died and 3 were injured, on the 21st.
At the site, Minister Lee expressed deep condolences and regret for the deceased and injured workers, and instructed the staff to conduct a strict investigation and review the application of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.
He especially urged prompt supervision considering the high possibility of similar accidents occurring in the future.
Earlier, immediately after the accident, the Ministry of Employment and Labor dispatched labor inspectors to the construction site to ascertain the cause of the accident. Labor inspectors from the Gyeonggi Regional Office's Metropolitan Serious Accident Management Division and the Pyeongtaek Branch's Industrial Accident Prevention Guidance Division arrived at the accident site to identify the cause of the collapse and verify whether construction was carried out according to the design documents.
Additionally, they investigated violations of the Industrial Safety and Health Act, including compliance with the initial curing standards for concrete. Curing work refers to maintaining adequate moisture and protecting the concrete from impact or freezing until it fully hardens.
The Ministry also launched an investigation into whether SGC E-Tech Construction, the contractor, violated the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.
Enforced since January 27 this year, the Serious Accidents Punishment Act stipulates that if an industrial accident such as a worker's death occurs at workplaces with 50 or more regular employees (or construction projects worth 5 billion KRW or more), employers or management officials who fail to fulfill their obligations to prevent accidents may face imprisonment of one year or more, or fines up to 1 billion KRW.
The Ministry ordered a work stoppage at the site and, following Minister Lee's instructions, established a Central Industrial Accident Response Headquarters and Regional Industrial Accident Response Headquarters.
Ryu Kyunghee, Director of the Ministry's Occupational Safety and Health Headquarters, visited the accident site on the same day, urging the utmost efforts for swift cause identification and recovery, and strict investigation of any legal violations.
The Ministry plans to conduct special supervision of the accident site and oversee major construction sites nationwide operated by SGC E-Tech Construction. Furthermore, it will conduct surprise inspections of concrete pouring work at major logistics warehouse construction sites across the country.
Earlier that day, at around 1:05 PM, a fall accident occurred at the KY Logis cold storage warehouse new construction site located in Oegacheon-ri, Wongok-myeon, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do.
The accident happened when approximately 15 pyeong of formwork on the 4th floor of the building collapsed down to the 3rd floor during concrete pouring work. The Ministry of Employment and Labor believes that the lower props (temporary structures) could not bear the weight and collapsed.
As a result, five workers fell about 5 to 6 meters below and were seriously injured. Among them, two died and three are receiving treatment at a hospital.
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