Rapid Investigation Success of Arisel Fire... Selected as 'Industrial Safety Supervisor of the Year'

Six Supervisors Selected at Regional Offices Nationwide

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 8th that it has selected six industrial safety inspectors who achieved outstanding results through strict law enforcement in industrial accident prevention and serious accident investigations over the past year as the '2024 Industrial Safety Inspectors of the Year.'

The industrial safety inspectors selected this year are ▲ Shin Cheol-im (Seoul Office, Industrial Accident Prevention Guidance Division) ▲ Jeong Yeon-hee (Uijeongbu Branch, Construction Industrial Accident Guidance Division) ▲ Kim Ki-young (Gyeonggi Branch, Metropolitan Serious Accident Investigation Division) ▲ Choi Jae-won (Changwon Branch, Industrial Accident Prevention Guidance Division) ▲ Lee Ja-young (Daegu Office, Metropolitan Serious Accident Investigation Division) ▲ Lee Gwang-ho (Gunsan Branch, Industrial Accident Prevention Guidance Division), totaling six people.

Among the approximately 880 industrial safety inspectors nationwide, they achieved remarkable results in tasks such as industrial accident prevention guidance and inspection, investigation under the Serious Accident Punishment Act, and spreading safety culture. Based on their expertise and experience, they also contributed to building the overall organizational work capacity by mentoring colleagues and junior inspectors.

Provided by the Ministry of Employment and Labor

Inspector Shin Cheol-im emphasized that proactive preventive activities are crucial to reducing industrial accidents and promoted active inspections and supervision. During inspections conducted last year, he identified that the 'work scaffold-mounted motor car' used for railway equipment inspection and repair was not safety certified, ensuring that all motor cars nationwide obtained certification.

Inspector Jeong Yeon-hee focused preventive activities on specialized construction companies, which account for over 70% of construction industry accidents. Through efforts such as operating the 'Dasan Academy,' which educates representatives of specialized construction companies on excellent safety management cases, she reduced industrial accident fatalities at construction sites under her jurisdiction by 62% (13 people).

Inspector Kim Ki-young led the swift and strict investigation of the fire accident at the Hwaseong Arisel factory. Through on-site forensics and other measures, he uncovered the cause of the accident and legal violations, collaborating with the police and prosecution to detain the management responsible?the first such arrest since the enforcement of the Serious Accident Punishment Act. Additionally, he reduced the average time for transferring cases under the Serious Accident Punishment Act from 10 months to 2.5 months.

Inspector Choi Jae-won supported the establishment of self-regulatory prevention systems in small and medium-sized enterprises to prevent industrial accidents. In particular, by introducing and utilizing a three-stage inspection method targeting industrial complexes, he laid the foundation for reducing industrial accident fatalities in his jurisdiction by 52% (11 people).

Inspector Lee Ja-young played a role in clarifying liability for serious accidents by investigating chemical substance acute poisoning cases, which are difficult to prove legal violations. In the early stages of the Yeongpung Seokpo Smelter arsenic poisoning accident, she responded swiftly to prevent data manipulation, and through 44 rounds of witness and suspect interrogations and analysis of 50,000 pages of documents, she secured the detention and transfer of responsible parties.

Inspector Lee Gwang-ho accumulated 17 years of industrial safety experience at a chemical product manufacturing company before becoming an industrial safety inspector three years ago. Last year, leveraging his private sector expertise, he conducted workplace inspections and supervision, providing follow-up guidance until safety levels improved. He also led one company to invest 170 million KRW in related facilities.

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo stated, "Last year, all industrial safety inspectors nationwide made great efforts to inspect and improve hazardous and risky factors at workplaces, investigate serious accidents, and spread safety culture with the goal of reducing serious accidents." He urged, "Please continue to do your best this year to reduce serious accidents and create safe workplaces."