[2024 National Audit] "Consistent Forest Field Safety Accidents... Most in Gangwon-do"

Safety accidents causing injuries or deaths continue to occur steadily at forestry project sites. Gangwon Province is identified as the region with the highest number of safety accidents.

On the 10th, Kim Seon-gyo, a member of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee (People Power Party, Gyeonggi Yeosu City·Yangpyeong County), revealed data submitted by the Korea Forest Service (status of safety accidents among forestry project workers from 2019 to 2023), which shows that 4,961 casualties occurred at forestry project sites over the past five years.

By year, the number of injured persons was 1,000 in 2019, 1,013 in 2020, 933 in 2021, 955 in 2022, and 983 in 2023. Deaths were 17 each in 2019 and 2020, 13 in 2021 and 2022, and 17 in 2023. During the same period, the total number of injured was 4,884, and the total number of deaths was 77.

By type, injuries caused by collisions and being struck were the most common with 1,409 cases, followed by cuts and lacerations with 1,368 cases, being crushed with 843 cases, and falls with 740 cases. Fatal accidents were mainly due to being crushed (33 deaths), falls (12 deaths), and cuts/lacerations (3 deaths).

By region, Gangwon Province had the highest number of injured persons at 1,004, followed by Gyeongbuk with 807, Gyeongnam with 625, Chungbuk with 485, and Jeonbuk with 405. Gangwon Province (25 deaths) also had the highest number of fatal accidents. Next were Gyeongbuk with 12 deaths, Gyeongnam with 10 deaths, Chungbuk with 8 deaths, and Chungnam with 6 deaths, all losing lives at forestry project sites.

Assemblyman Kim stated, “After a decline, safety accidents among forestry project workers have been increasing again since 2021,” and urged, “The Korea Forest Service should prepare multifaceted measures to prevent human casualties through safety-related education, equipment inspections, and prompt responses after accidents.”