Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture Obtains Safety and Health Management System Certification

The Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture announced on April 18 that it became the first cultural and arts institution in Seoul to obtain certification for the Safety and Health Management System (KOSHA-MS), and held a certification award ceremony on the 17th.

KOSHA-MS is the latest safety and health management system certification scheme best suited to domestic conditions. It is evaluated by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency based on criteria that adapt the international standard ISO45001 to local circumstances and reflect the requirements of current safety-related laws, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The system covers all processes from planning, implementation, inspection, to feedback for establishing an occupational safety and health system at workplaces.

On-site Photos of Safety and Health Management System Certification Ceremony
Photo by Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture

The foundation explained that, during the certification assessment, it was highly recognized for its efforts to advance its safety and health management system. This included introducing 'mandatory safety guidelines for performances' tailored to the operational characteristics of an institution that holds many public events such as performances and outdoor festivals, and incorporating 'mandatory safety guidelines for outdoor events such as festivals' into its workplace safety manual.

The foundation was established in 2004 and currently operates a total of 19 cultural facilities across Seoul without any accidents. The foundation emphasized that, with this certification, it aims to play a leading role in the field of safety and health among public institutions in culture and the arts.

Song Hyeongjong, CEO of the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, stated, "Since the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, the importance of safety management at industrial sites has grown, and public institutions in culture and the arts, which are responsible for citizens' enjoyment of culture, are no exception." He added, "With this certification, we will focus even more on establishing and developing our safety and health system, and on creating an environment where all citizens can safely and confidently enjoy culture and the arts."