Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail) has joined forces with external safety experts to enhance the safety of field workers.
On August 28, Korail announced that it held an expert advisory meeting at its Seoul headquarters with six railway safety experts from academia, industry, and research, including Professor Kwak Sangrok of Korea National University of Transportation, Professor Jung Chan-mook of Woosong University, and Choi Byungkyu, President of the Railway Traffic Control Association.
On the 28th, an external expert advisory meeting was held at the Korail Seoul headquarters to discuss measures to strengthen worker safety. Photo by Korail
This meeting was attended by these experts as well as over 10 members of Korail's management, including Acting President Jeong Jeongrae, to discuss measures to strengthen the safety of field workers.
The participants focused on developing practical safety enhancement measures needed in the field by conducting a multifaceted analysis of work near railway tracks from an objective and professional perspective. They discussed the need to review established work methods to ensure safety, secure sufficient work time, and expand investment in safety facilities for general railway lines, such as worker passageways.
In particular, the meeting included in-depth discussions on diagnosing and improving work near railway tracks, incorporating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital solutions into work methods and facility improvements, and determining appropriate work times for railway facility maintenance.
Professor Kwak Sangrok of Korea National University of Transportation emphasized, "Securing sufficient actual work time during periods when trains are not running is the most important factor."
Professor Jung Chan-mook of Woosong University commented, "It is necessary to proactively invest in safety facilities, such as expanding worker protection equipment on general railway lines to the level of high-speed lines."
Based on the discussions from this meeting, Korail plans to gather feedback from both internal and external experts and establish enhanced safety measures for field workers to prevent industrial accidents.
Jeong Jeongrae, Acting President of Korail, stated, "We will work with railway safety experts, the government, and related organizations to establish fundamental on-site safety measures," adding, "Korail will continue its efforts to create safer working conditions for employees through the mechanization and advancement of maintenance work."
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