All Firefighters' Health, Safety, Welfare, and Service Policies Explored Together

Holding Public-Private Collaboration Workshop and Discussion Meeting

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] On the 15th, the National Fire Agency announced that on the 12th, it held a workshop discussion at the Chungbuk C&V Center jointly with the National Fire Research Institute and the Korea Firefighters Mutual Aid Association to efficiently promote this year's health, safety, and welfare policy tasks for firefighters.

This workshop discussion was organized to review the progress of the 2nd Basic Plan for Firefighters' Health, Safety, and Welfare (2021?2025) and to mutually share and discuss 31 new or changed topics in the fields of firefighters' health, safety, welfare, and service management.

The main agenda items of this discussion were ▲pilot operation of online non-face-to-face medical treatment ▲comprehensive measures to reduce safety accidents among field personnel ▲enhancement of integrated operation of disaster compensation and veterans affairs ▲improvement of counseling system for working conditions and service management of on-site firefighters ▲research on improving special health examinations for firefighters ▲research on health and hazardous factor risk analysis for firefighters ▲expansion of projects to improve welfare for members of the Korea Firefighters Mutual Aid Association, among others.

In particular, regarding the ‘pilot project for online non-face-to-face psychiatric treatment’ currently being provided remotely by Seoul National University Hospital to firefighters at 10 stations nationwide from last October until this July, there were many opinions that it should be expanded to other regions to reduce disparities in medical environments for firefighters. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will promptly proceed with approval negotiations for the pilot project.

Additionally, safety practical training will be strengthened according to types of injury risks, and a comprehensive plan for preventing and reducing safety accidents reflecting the ‘special safety management inspection’ will be prepared.

Furthermore, concerning the amendment of the Public Officials' Disaster Compensation Act, the National Fire Agency will integrate and operate firefighters' disaster compensation and national merit affairs to strengthen the acquisition of evidence proving work-relatedness.

Hong Young-geun, Planning and Coordination Officer of the National Fire Agency, said, “This workshop was a very meaningful opportunity to discuss the direction of fire policy research together with the National Fire Research Institute, the comprehensive research institution for fire and disaster response, and the Korea Firefighters Mutual Aid Association, which is responsible for firefighters' welfare.” He added, “Based on the results derived from the discussion, we will strive to further expand health, safety, and welfare policies for firefighters.”