'Asphyxiation' with Over 50% Mortality Rate... Nationwide Inspection Triggered by a Single Phone Call

Safety and Health Gong Launches 'On-Site Asphyxiation Accident Prevention One-Call Service'

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] From now on, with just one phone call, suffocation accident prevention services will be available at industrial sites nationwide.

The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency announced on the 2nd that it will expand the "One-Call Service," where experts rush to the site when workplaces such as septic tanks and manholes request services by phone, nationwide. After a pilot operation in Gyeonggi Province last year, the scope will be expanded nationwide this year.

Before workers perform tasks in confined spaces, experts visit to provide accident prevention support. Confined spaces include areas such as septic tanks, storage tanks, and manholes, which are difficult to ventilate even if not completely sealed on all sides. In these places, suffocation accidents can occur due to gases or oxygen deficiency.

Experts support on-site measurement of oxygen and harmful gas concentrations, safety education for workers, and rental of suffocation accident prevention equipment. Services are provided according to the time requested by the workplace. Preventive equipment such as gas concentration meters, ventilation fans, and supplied-air respirators are delivered to the site and collected after the service.

Park Duyong, the agency's director, said, "Suffocation accidents in confined spaces have a very high likelihood of resulting in death once they occur," and added, "Through this service, it is expected that workplaces can secure safety in confined space work without the cost and management burden of purchasing safety equipment."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the agency announced on the 18th of last month that they will designate the period until next month as the "Intensive Inspection Period for Suffocation Accident Prevention" and will conduct focused inspections. This is because, over the past 10 years, more than half of the 316 suffocation accident victims in confined spaces?168 people (53.2%)?died, and accidents were concentrated in the spring season.

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