Gyeonggi Fire Department Promotes 'Fire Safety Innovation' Project for Small Businesses

Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters is conducting the 'Gyeonggi-do Fire Safety Innovation Workplace' project as part of its initiative to create safer workplaces. Joseonho, Head of the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters (second from the left), visited the first innovation workplace, held a plaque ceremony, and took a photo with company officials. Photo by Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters

The Gyeonggi-do Fire Department is promoting the 'Gyeonggi-do Fire Safety Innovation Workplace' project to spread the necessity of fire safety management targeting small businesses with a total floor area of less than 400㎡.

On the 19th, the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced that on the 17th, they selected PES Co., Ltd., a military base dehumidifier supplier located in Gwangju City, as a fire safety innovation workplace and held a plaque ceremony.

Current fire laws require workplaces with a total floor area of 400㎡ or more to be equipped with fire facilities, but small businesses are excluded from mandatory installation of various fire facilities such as emergency alarm systems and sprinklers, making them highly vulnerable to fire risks.

In fact, over the past five years (2018?2022), there were 1,305 fires reported at small businesses with a total floor area of less than 400㎡ in Gyeonggi-do. This accounts for 27.7% of all fires. Fire-related casualties also included 91 victims, including 8 deaths, accounting for 24.7% of all fire-related casualties.

The Fire and Disaster Headquarters installed fire facilities such as large fire extinguishers, fire alarms, and emergency lights at PES Co., Ltd., the first innovation workplace selected, and provided safety supplies such as emergency whistles.

Additionally, evacuation guidance pictograms (symbolic pictorial characters representing objects or actions) were installed at emergency exits or on the floor surface to ensure evacuation safety.

Cho Sun-ho, head of the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters, explained, "The fire safety innovation workplace project presents a model answer that fire prevention can be achieved with a very small amount of money, encouraging other small businesses to install fire safety facilities. The Fire Headquarters will also provide significant support to make the work environment not only safer but also more convenient."