FKCCI Special Lecture on Preparations for the Serious Accidents Punishment Act: "Need for Manpower and Budget Investment"

'FKI BUSINESS CLASS' 4th Special Lecture

[Asia Economy Reporter Sunmi Park] The FKI Small and Medium Business Cooperation Center announced on the 16th that it held the 4th session of the 'FKI BUSINESS CLASS' special lecture at the FKI Conference Center, focusing on understanding the Serious Accident Punishment Act and the preparations companies need to make.

This free education for companies was organized by the Center and the Federation of Korean Industries to help company representatives and employees strengthen their competitiveness in response to the rapidly changing business environment.

Attorney Dongwook Kim of Sejong Law Firm gave a lecture not only on the preparations companies must make following the enforcement of the Serious Accident Punishment Act but also on response measures in the event of a serious accident. Attorney Kim stated, “Although more than 10 months have passed since its enforcement, confusion still prevails in industrial sites due to the Serious Accident Punishment Act,” adding, “To resolve this situation, it is essential to have an accurate understanding of the legal provisions and to carry out preventive activities through the establishment of safety and health systems.”

He emphasized the importance of companies investing sufficient personnel and budget to establish systems and procedures to fulfill the safety and health obligations required by law, such as ▲setting safety and health goals and management policies by management responsibility ▲assigning experts to each workplace ▲establishing procedures for identifying and inspecting hazardous and risky factors ▲listening to workers’ opinions (once every six months).

Park Cheolhan, Director of the FKI Small and Medium Business Cooperation Center, stated, “Companies are experiencing much confusion in understanding and responding to the current Serious Accident Punishment Act, and especially small and medium enterprises are expressing difficulties,” adding, “The government should shift its policy focus from ‘post-penalty’ to ‘prevention’ to enhance the effectiveness of accident prevention and support companies in strengthening their own capabilities for autonomous safety activities.”