Cultivating Work Ability for Low-Income Groups and Supporting Firefighters, Jeonnam Province Catches Two Birds with One Stone

Implementation of 'Firefighter Turnout Gear Laundry Project' Utilizing Self-Support Employment

Jeonnam Province has achieved two goals?creating new jobs for low-income individuals and supporting firefighters?by implementing the ‘Firefighter Turnout Gear Laundry Project’ utilizing self-support work.

The province announced on the 17th that the ‘Firefighter Turnout Gear Laundry Project’ will be divided into four regions and carried out by the Mokpo, Suncheon, Hwasun, and Wando Regional Self-Support Centers.

This project aims not only to support firefighting efforts but also to foster the work capabilities of low-income individuals with labor ability and provide jobs to support their independence.

Due to the nature of firefighter turnout gear, general laundry is difficult, requiring the use of special detergents and firefighters to wash the gear themselves, which poses challenges.

The project formed laundry teams at the four regional self-support centers, prepared workplaces with spaces suitable for natural drying, and the province supported the purchase costs of turnout gear-dedicated washing machines and dryers for each center with 200 million KRW from the provincial self-support fund.

Since full-scale operation began in February, contracts for laundry services have been made with 20 fire stations in Jeonnam totaling 231.6 million KRW. As of the end of March, a total of 699 sets of firefighter turnout gear (Hwasun 190 sets, Mokpo 201 sets, Wando 151 sets, Suncheon 157 sets) have been laundered, creating 21 new jobs for self-support work participants.

The firefighter turnout gear laundry project is also known to have high satisfaction among firefighters working on the front lines.

Using washing machines certified by the Korea Fire Institute (KFI) rather than general washing machines and special detergents dedicated to turnout gear, the process involves manually removing foreign substances from the outer shell one by one, washing the inner and outer shells separately, and naturally drying them, which minimizes damage to the turnout gear and is highly welcomed.

In particular, each laundry team provides direct pickup and delivery services to fire stations and 119 centers once or twice a week, reducing the burden on firefighters.

Lee Ji-won, director of the Mokpo Regional Self-Support Center, said, “We have installed laundry collection boxes at contracted fire stations, paying special attention to firefighters’ hygiene and convenience, which has received great response. We plan to expand the items to include fire hoods, gloves, and shoes, and broaden the business scope to niche markets such as group uniforms and dormitory bedding laundry.”

Lee Sang-sim, director of the Jeonnam Provincial Health and Welfare Bureau, stated, “The firefighter turnout gear laundry project funded by the self-support fund will help improve the harsh working conditions of firefighters who silently fulfill their duties on the front lines for public safety. We will also do our best to support poverty alleviation and independence by enhancing the skills and business capabilities of self-support workers facing difficulties.”