Ministry of Employment Inspects Workplaces with Confined Spaces like Manholes... Unannounced Supervision Next Month

Close Supervision and Guidance of High-Risk Workplaces... Cooperation with Local Governments
Intensive Promotion in July-August... Distribution of Asphyxiation Accident Prevention Guidelines
Ministry of Employment and Labor "Strict Punishment for Workplaces Violating Basic Rules"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] To prevent suffocation accidents occurring in confined spaces such as manholes, the government will conduct workplace inspections. To enhance the effectiveness of suffocation disaster prevention, a guidance period will be provided this month, and unannounced inspections at workplaces will be conducted starting next month.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 19th that it will implement the "Confined Space Suffocation Disaster Prevention Measures" as the risk of suffocation accidents in confined spaces such as wastewater treatment plants and manholes increases with rising summer temperatures.

Over the past 10 years (2010?2019), among 166 suffocation deaths in confined spaces, 59 (36%) occurred in wastewater treatment plants, manholes, and sewage treatment facilities.

The Ministry plans to investigate workplaces that have confined spaces, classify the risk levels into three categories, and closely manage high-risk workplaces through specialized technical guidance from the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency.

Following a recent major suffocation accident at a resource recycling company, focused guidance and inspections will be conducted on confined space management in that industry.

Additionally, local governments will independently conduct safety inspections on water supply and sewage construction projects and wastewater treatment subcontractors. Sites with poor management will be subject to patrol inspections and supervision by the Agency. Training on suffocation disaster prevention management will also be provided to local government officials.

Furthermore, under the Ministry’s supervision, unannounced inspections will be conducted on workplaces vulnerable to suffocation accidents during the summer. The inspections will focus on confirming whether entry bans to confined spaces are enforced, suffocation prevention equipment is possessed and installed, and confined space work programs are established and implemented.

Before the inspections scheduled from the 2nd to the 28th of next month, a guidance period will be provided from the 20th to the 31st of this month, during which workplaces can conduct self-inspections using self-checklists and suffocation disaster prevention safety and health materials provided.

The Ministry and the Agency will operate an intensive publicity period in July and August and distribute suffocation disaster prevention guidelines. They plan to actively promote awareness of the risks of suffocation accidents on-site and encourage the implementation of prevention measures.

The Agency will reorganize its existing suffocation disaster prevention equipment rental service to be more user-centered. Upon request from workplaces, a "visiting rental service" will be provided, where equipment is delivered directly to the site.

Park Young-man, Director of the Industrial Accident Prevention and Compensation Policy Bureau, stated, "Suffocation disasters in confined spaces can be sufficiently prevented by simply following basic safety rules such as measuring oxygen and gas concentrations and ventilating before work."

He added, "Through these unannounced inspections, workplaces that do not even comply with basic rules will be strictly punished to foster a culture where workers' lives are prioritized above all."

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