Lee Jae-gap "Promoting 'Fatal Accident Reduction Target System' for Top 100 Construction Companies"

Minister Lee Jae-gap of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Lee Jae-gap, Minister of Employment and Labor, announced on the 14th, "We will promote a fatal accident reduction target management system for the top 100 construction companies, requiring them to establish reduction targets and plans, and regularly verify them."

On the same day, Minister Lee held a meeting with CEOs of construction companies at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, stating, "Last year, the number of fatal accidents at the top 10 construction companies was 27, a decrease of 7 compared to the previous year, but the number of fatalities among the top 100 construction companies excluding these did not decrease."

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the number of industrial accident fatalities last year was 855, a decrease of 116 compared to the previous year. This is the largest decrease since the accident fatality statistics began in 1999. The number of industrial accident fatalities entered the 800s for the first time, and the fatality rate also dropped below 0.4 for the first time.

The number of fatal accidents in the construction industry was 428, down 73 from the previous year, and the top 10 construction companies saw a decrease of 7.

Minister Lee emphasized, "Although the number of industrial accident fatalities decreased significantly last year, more than 800 people still lose their precious lives at workplaces. In cases where fatal accidents repeatedly occur due to employers' negligence in safety and health measures, special inspections including headquarters will be conducted step-by-step."

For small-scale construction sites vulnerable to safety management, customized education, guidance, and linked financial support projects will be provided.

Minister Lee said, "This year, support for integrated work platforms increased by 16.4 billion KRW, and loans for small and medium-sized workplaces increased by 16.1 billion KRW, enabling more sites to receive assistance."

The Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to conduct supervision in the construction industry this year with the goal of eliminating risk factors such as falls. More than 10,000 sites will be inspected, and five times the number of workplaces will be pre-selected and notified to encourage voluntary improvement of risk factors.

Minister Lee stated, "In collaboration with the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, patrol inspection teams will thoroughly guide small-scale construction sites by region, and poor-performing workplaces will be linked with local government inspections."

He added, "Through cooperation with related ministries such as the Office for Government Policy Coordination and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, management will be strengthened for local government-commissioned construction projects and public institution workplaces."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.