Two Companies Handling Excess Designated Quantity Criminally Charged, Six Administrative Orders Issued
The Special Judicial Police of the Northern Gyeonggi Fire Department are cracking down on unauthorized hazardous materials handling and sales locations in Northern Gyeonggi. [Gyeonggi Bukbu Fire Disaster Headquarters]
[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] The Special Judicial Police of the Northern Gyeonggi Fire Department announced on the 17th that "over the course of a month-long planned crackdown starting from the 4th of last month, eight hardware and building material stores were caught storing and selling hazardous materials such as solid fuel without permission."
The main items targeted in the crackdown were ▲ unauthorized storage or handling of insulation fuel at construction sites ▲ compliance with transporter qualification standards for hazardous materials exceeding designated quantities ▲ and other violations of fire-related laws.
As a result of the crackdown, two businesses storing and handling hazardous materials exceeding the designated quantity without permission were criminally charged.
Additionally, administrative orders were issued to five businesses that stored and handled hazardous materials in violation of the 'Gyeonggi-do Hazardous Materials Safety Management Ordinance' and one business with poor fire facility management.
According to the Special Judicial Police, Company A is suspected of storing and selling 'solid fuel' for heating, mainly used at construction sites or vinyl greenhouses, exceeding five times the designated quantity.
Under the current 'Hazardous Materials Safety Management Act,' solid fuel is classified as a Class 2 hazardous material (flammable solid) requiring considerable caution in storage and handling, with a designated quantity limited to 1000 kg.
The 'Hazardous Materials Safety Management Act' stipulates that anyone storing or handling hazardous materials at unauthorized locations shall be subject to imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won.
The planned crackdown was a measure taken following a series of hardware store fires nationwide, with about 30 special judicial police officers conducting intensive inspections of 22 large hardware and building material stores located in northern Gyeonggi.
Head of Headquarters Go Deok-geun emphasized, "Despite prior notice of the crackdown plan targeting places with frequent fires in preparation for winter, illegal activities were detected at some businesses," adding, "Hazardous materials stored without adhering to safety standards can lead to large-scale fires, so the relevant parties need to pay special attention and caution."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
