Slight Decrease in 'Hazardous Material Handling Facilities' in Gangwon-do... Significant Increase in 'Safety Management Act Violations'

0.6% Decrease in Manufacturing Sites Compared to Previous Year, 28.6% Increase in Legal Violations

Reference photo [Provided by Fire Headquarters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] While the number of hazardous material handling facilities in Gangwon Province has slightly decreased, violations of the Hazardous Materials Safety Management Act have significantly increased, raising concerns about accidents and large-scale casualties.

The Gangwon Provincial Fire Headquarters announced on the 23rd, "Although the number of hazardous material manufacturing sites decreased compared to the previous year, the number of violations of the Hazardous Materials Safety Management Act has increased."

According to statistics from the Provincial Fire Headquarters, there were a total of 6,139 hazardous material manufacturing sites in 2021, a decrease of 34 sites (0.6%) compared to the previous year. By type, indoor tanks decreased the most by 64 sites, followed by underground tanks with 35 sites, mobile tanks with 16 sites, and general handling facilities with 11 sites.

Hazardous material manufacturing sites have been steadily decreasing due to the conversion from heating oil to city gas and the closure of small or micro hazardous material businesses.

Despite the decrease in hazardous material manufacturing sites compared to the previous year, the number of violations of the Hazardous Materials Safety Management Act increased by 51 cases (28.65%), from 178 cases in 2019 to 229 cases in 2020.

The Provincial Fire Headquarters took legal action in 18 cases (7.9%), imposed fines in 51 cases (22.2%), issued administrative orders in 161 cases (68.6%), and notified relevant agencies in 3 cases (1.3%).

In particular, among the violations of the Hazardous Materials Safety Management Act, there were many cases of storing or handling hazardous materials in unauthorized warehouses or storage locations, including gas stations, or failing to appoint a fire safety manager.

Since this reduces the ability to respond in the event of fire or explosion accidents and can lead to large-scale casualties, strict compliance with the law is required.

When storing or handling hazardous materials (such as gasoline and diesel), it must be done in the presence of a hazardous materials safety manager, and a hazardous materials safety deputy must be separately designated in case the safety manager is absent.

Additionally, in the event of a fire or other disaster, the hazardous materials safety manager must take emergency measures appropriate to the nature of the hazardous materials and report to the fire department after taking emergency action.

Furthermore, cooperation systems with personnel from adjacent hazardous material facilities and related facilities are necessary to prevent disasters such as fires.

Kim Chung-sik, head of the Provincial Fire Headquarters, stated, "We will conduct regular guidance and supervision of hazardous material facilities to prevent illegal activities," and urged, "Those involved in hazardous material manufacturing sites should also strive for safety management."

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