One Year Since the Icheon Fire Disaster... Nationwide Emergency Inspections of Frozen and Logistics Warehouse Construction Sites

Minister Lee Jaegap of Employment and Labor to Visit Yongin Logistics Center Construction Site on the 28th

At the site of a fire at a logistics warehouse construction site in Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, where 38 people died, officials from the police, fire department, and National Forensic Service conducted a joint inspection on the morning of April 30 last year. (Image source=Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government will conduct an urgent inspection of fire safety and COVID-19 prevention measures at frozen and logistics warehouse construction sites nationwide for two weeks. This decision comes after the tragic fire accident at the Icheon frozen and logistics warehouse construction site a year ago, which claimed 38 lives, and the recent increase in online shopping, which has heightened the need to tighten safety management at such facilities. This also aligns with the government's policy to strengthen construction site inspections ahead of the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act next year.

On the 28th at 2:30 PM, Minister of Employment Lee Jaegab visited the new logistics center construction site in Buk-ri, Namsa-myeon, Yongin, being built by POSCO Construction, to check whether the 'construction site fire prevention measures' are properly implemented on site. Minister Lee emphasized, "With the recent increase in online shopping, the construction of large frozen and logistics warehouses is also rising, increasing the possibility of major accidents such as fires and explosions during the construction process. To prevent a recurrence of the tragedy (Icheon fire accident) from a year ago, the client, contractor, and subcontractors must cooperate to strengthen safety management."

According to the Ministry of Employment, the number of submitted Hazard Prevention Plans related to frozen and logistics warehouses has increased from 60 sites in 2018, to 74 in 2019, and 108 last year. Although employers submit safety plans, the Ministry warns that extreme caution is necessary because workers are densely gathered, making them vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, and the risk of facility explosions during construction is always present. Furthermore, following the fire accident on the 24th at an officetel construction site in Namyangju that resulted in one death, the Ministry judged that raising awareness of fire accident risks is necessary.

The Ministry of Employment will conduct urgent inspections over the next two weeks to prevent fires and explosions and to enforce COVID-19 prevention measures at frozen and logistics warehouse construction sites nationwide. Local offices and industrial complexes will conduct unannounced checks on the implementation of Hazard Prevention Plans. Violations will result in fines and corrective actions, and if corrective actions are ignored, work stoppages and legal prosecution will follow. COVID-19 prevention inspections will be conducted simultaneously. Construction sites vulnerable to infection will be reported to local governments for fines and linked COVID-19 testing (PCR tests).

Minister Lee stated, "We will take all measures to eradicate fire accidents, including immediate dispatch to the site even for minor fire incidents and work stoppage for legal violations." He also urged, "As sporadic COVID-19 infections have recently occurred at construction sites, please follow prevention guidelines such as wearing masks in cafeterias and shower rooms."

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