54 Deaths from Construction Accidents in Q4 Last Year

11 Dead at Construction Sites of Top 100 Construction Companies

[Asia Economy Reporter Noh Kyung-jo] It was investigated that a total of 11 people died at construction sites of the top 100 construction companies in the construction capacity evaluation in the fourth quarter of last year. At the SGC E-Tech Construction site alone, 3 people died.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 26th that, based on an analysis of the Construction Safety Management Integrated Information Network (CSI) statistics, a total of 54 people died in construction accidents in the fourth quarter of last year. Among them, 11 deaths occurred at construction sites of the top 100 construction companies, a decrease of 6 people (35%) compared to the fourth quarter of 2021, before the Serious Accident Punishment Act was enforced.

Firefighters are conducting rescue operations together with on-site workers at the construction site of the new cold storage warehouse of KY Logistics in Anseong-si, Gyeonggi Province, where a fall accident occurred. / Photo by Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters

The top 100 construction companies where fatal accidents occurred numbered 9, and related subcontractors numbered 8. At the new cold logistics warehouse construction site of KY Logistics in Anseong-si, Gyeonggi Province, constructed by SGC E-Tech Construction, 3 people fell to their deaths. Additionally, one death each occurred at construction sites of eight other companies including Samsung C&T, DL E&C, GS Engineering & Construction, DL Construction, Joongheung Togeon, Jeil Construction, Daebo Construction, and Geukdong Construction.

In particular, at the construction site of DL E&C (ranked 3rd), which is also one of the top 10 construction companies, fatal accidents occurred for five consecutive quarters. Samsung C&T (ranked 1st) and GS Engineering & Construction (ranked 5th) had no deaths until the third quarter of last year but each had one death in the fourth quarter.

At public construction sites, a total of 14 people died, which is 7 fewer than the same period last year. At private construction sites, 40 people died, an increase of 2 compared to the same period last year. The licensing authorities with the highest number of deaths were Anseong-si and Hwaseong-si (3 each).

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to conduct special inspections by March targeting large construction companies and related subcontractors where fatal accidents occurred in the fourth quarter of last year. For construction companies with fatal accidents occurring for four or more consecutive quarters or serious construction accidents, the inspection personnel and duration will be expanded for focused and detailed inspections.

An official from the Ministry said, "During this special inspection, intensive and detailed inspections will be conducted at the construction sites of DL E&C and SGC E-Tech Construction to raise the level of company interest in site safety management and to induce practical safety improvements at the sites."