[Seoul Autonomous District News] Yeongdeungpo-gu Establishes 2022/23 Snow Removal Response System... Operates Until March 15 Next Year & Expands Automatic Brine Spraying Devices, Increases Private Snow Removal Services, Relocates Snow Removal Base for Thorough Response System & Strengthens Snow Removal Capabilities Through Civil-Military-Police Cooperation... Dobong-gu Operates 'Night Cold Shelter' for Vulnerable Groups During Cold Wave Alerts... Gangdong-gu Conducts Second Half Safety and Health Compliance Inspection for Employees and Residents from December 1 to 9
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will significantly strengthen its response capabilities against sudden heavy snowfall and road icing, entering a snow removal response system for four months from November 15 to March 15 of next year.
The district has established and is implementing a snow removal plan that is more improved than before. The Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters is operating to maintain a 24-hour situation management system, and efforts have been made to prepare thoroughly in advance by securing snow removal agents, inspecting snow removal equipment, and installing snow removal boxes before the snow removal period arrives.
First, to enable rapid initial snow removal response, the installation of automatic brine spraying devices will be expanded. Approximately 560 million KRW of city funds were invested to complete the installation of three fixed automatic brine spraying devices (2,880m) in November at Yeongdeungpo Station overpass, Yeongdeungpo underpass, and the hill road in front of Shingil Xi Apartments.
On the relatively short slope connecting Nodul-ro in Yangpyeong-dong, about 100 million KRW of city funds will be invested to install four mobile automatic brine spraying devices in December.
The automatic brine spraying device sprays brine remotely via computer, allowing quick snow removal through CCTV installed on-site when it snows. Including the existing devices, the district operates five fixed and five mobile devices, expecting to enable faster snow removal response.
Additionally, the deployment of private snow removal service company equipment and professional personnel will be expanded for snow removal work on side streets conducted by each community center. To focus intensive snow removal on vulnerable areas such as hill roads and side streets and to enable rapid emergency response, 18 one-ton vehicles, 18 snow removal spreaders, and 52 personnel supporting the community have been secured.
Furthermore, to improve the efficiency of snow removal work, the dispatch base is being relocated from near Dangsan Elementary School to the Yangpyeong-dong retention basin, which has better accessibility and a larger area. Currently, snow removal materials and equipment have been relocated, and there is no issue in using the dispatch base for snow removal operations.
In addition, a close cooperation system with civilian, military, and police has been established, signing agreements with equipment companies to deploy 155 private equipment units in case of heavy snowfall or similar emergencies. Prior consultations have been made with the 1st Battalion, 213th Regiment, 52nd Division, and Yeongdeungpo Police Station to receive support from military and police forces, working together to ensure a safe Yeongdeungpo-gu even during sudden heavy snowfall.
Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, stated, “We will take the lead in establishing a systematic and rapid snow removal response system by mobilizing all capabilities,” and added, “To create a safe Yeongdeungpo, we ask residents to actively participate in ‘clearing snow in front of their homes and stores’ and ‘making way for snow removal vehicles.’”
Dobong-gu (District Mayor Oh Eon-seok) will operate a ‘Nighttime Cold Wave Shelter’ from December 2022 to February next year during the winter cold wave warning period for vulnerable groups and residents affected by the cold wave, following the summer nighttime heatwave shelter in 2022.
The district has signed agreements with three local lodging businesses to designate them as ‘Nighttime Cold Wave Shelters,’ securing a total of 30 rooms to provide warm sleeping places for vulnerable elderly and residents affected by the cold wave.
The nighttime cold wave shelters are ▲Internet Motel (65 Uicheon-ro 24-gil) ▲Motel Sehwa (17 Banghak-ro 6-gil) ▲Lux Motel (739 Dobong-ro), totaling three locations. They operate from 6 PM to 12 PM the next day when a cold wave warning is issued. Eligible users include elderly living alone aged 65 or older, basic livelihood security recipients, low-income elderly, and residents vulnerable to housing damage such as frozen pipes or power outages related to the cold wave.
To use the ‘Nighttime Cold Wave Shelter,’ applications can be made to the local community service center when a cold wave warning is issued.
The nighttime cold wave shelter operates under a one-person-one-room principle to prevent COVID-19, allowing two persons per room for couples. During use, strict compliance with quarantine rules such as disinfection, mask-wearing, temperature checks, and health monitoring log maintenance is required.
Oh Eon-seok, Mayor of Dobong-gu, said, “We have prepared cold wave measures and shelters for residents who may be silently suffering due to the sudden cold wave. Please contact the community service center if you experience difficulties when a cold wave warning is issued.”
Gangdong-gu (District Mayor Lee Soo-hee) announced on the 2nd that it plans to conduct on-site inspections of safety and health obligation compliance in the second half of the year to prevent serious accidents following the enforcement of the Serious Accident Punishment Act in January.
This inspection is being promoted by Gangdong-gu targeting workplaces in the region to proactively prevent safety accidents, as the number of workplaces and workers in local governments has recently increased, resulting in a rise in industrial accident rates.
The inspection targets 27 directly managed workplaces and 57 public facilities located in Gangdong-gu, as well as public construction sites and subcontracted, commissioned, and consigned workplaces. It will conduct comprehensive inspections on compliance with related laws such as the Serious Accident Punishment Act and the Industrial Safety and Health Act, and risk assessments. Follow-up measures will be strictly implemented for any necessary improvements to ensure safety and health obligations are upheld.
Han Won-mo, Director of Disaster Safety Division, said, “Gangdong-gu plans to conduct thorough inspections to ensure safety and health obligations are well observed with the goal of preventing serious accidents among residents and workers,” adding, “We will evaluate the district’s safety management status through the inspections and promptly address any deficiencies.”
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