The site manager has been indicted and detained in connection with the fatal accident involving a worker at the Uiryeong Interchange construction site of the Hamyang-Ulsan Expressway, which was undertaken by POSCO E&C in July of last year.
On January 19, the Criminal Division 1 of the Masan Branch of the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office (headed by Chief Prosecutor Bang Junseong) announced that the site manager, Mr. A, had been indicted and detained on charges of violating the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Prosecutors also indicted two other officials, including the construction team leader, without detention on charges of occupational negligence resulting in death.
The incident occurred in July of last year at the Uiryeong Interchange construction site of the Hamyang-Ulsan Expressway, which was underway in Uiryeong County, South Gyeongsang Province. At that time, a worker in his 60s, Mr. B, died after being caught in a drilling machine-a piece of construction equipment used for ground reinforcement-while performing related work.
According to the prosecution, Mr. A and others are accused of failing to implement basic safety measures to prevent the risk of such accidents. In particular, the investigation found that the drilling machine involved in the accident did not have a cover installed to shield its rotating shaft.
The work process in question involved using a high-speed rotary drilling machine capable of up to 100 revolutions per minute to bore holes in the ground, a process classified as high-risk even within the construction industry. If a worker's safety gear or lifeline came into contact with the exposed rotating parts of the machine, there was a significant risk that the worker could be pulled into the machinery due to the strong rotational force.
Prosecutors believe that, even though Mr. B had raised concerns about the risk of his lifeline becoming entangled in the rotating part of the drilling machine prior to the accident, the site management failed to implement the necessary safety measures.
Meanwhile, prosecutors are continuing their investigation into whether to apply charges of violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act against the CEO of POSCO E&C in connection with this accident.
A spokesperson for the prosecution stated, "We will continue to respond swiftly and strictly to major industrial accidents that threaten the lives and safety of workers."
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