6-Year Total of 1,711 Laboratory Safety Accidents, Only 9 Major Accident Investigations
Assemblyman Han Minsu Calls for System Improvements Including Changes to Major Accident Designation Criteria to Prevent Recurrence
Although accidents in schools and corporate research labs increase every year, there is criticism that the criteria for serious accidents managed by the Ministry of Science and ICT are set too high, creating blind spots in management.
On the 8th, Han Minsu, a member of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee (Democratic Party), analyzed data submitted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and found that over the past six years (from 2019 to August 2024), a total of nine serious laboratory accidents occurred at universities, research institutions, and private company-affiliated research centers, resulting in 22 victims. There were also four fatalities.
The proportion of serious accidents is only a small fraction of all laboratory safety accidents. During the same period, a total of 1,711 safety accidents occurred, causing 1,775 casualties. Laboratory safety accidents have increased every year, with the number of accidents in 2023 rising by 70% compared to 2019.
By institution type, university laboratories accounted for the most accidents with 1,003 cases (59%), followed by private company-affiliated research centers with 393 cases (23%), and research institutions with 315 cases (18%).
Among universities, Seoul National University had 61 cases, Ewha Womans University 49 cases, Kyungpook National University 42 cases, and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) 39 cases. Among research institutions, the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology had 30 cases, the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology 26 cases, and FITI Testing & Research Institute 20 cases.
In companies, Hyundai Motor Company’s research center alone accounted for 200 accidents, making up 51% of the 393 accidents in corporate research centers.
The Ministry of Science and ICT defines serious accidents under the Laboratory Safety Act Enforcement Rules as including fatal accidents, occurrence of disabilities rated 1 to 9, simultaneous occurrence of two or more injured persons requiring more than three months of medical care, or five or more injured persons simultaneously requiring hospitalization for more than three days.
When a laboratory accident occurs, general accidents must be reported to the Minister of Science and ICT within one month by the respective institution, but in the case of serious accidents, immediate reporting is required, and the minister must form an accident investigation team and conduct an investigation immediately upon receiving the report.
Assemblyman Han Minsu stated, "Although accidents are increasing every year, only nine cases have been designated as serious accidents," and argued, "The criteria for designating serious accidents should be relaxed, and accident investigations should be strengthened even for general accidents to prevent recurrence of safety accidents."
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