Government to Conduct Special Inspection of 'Dongbang' Headquarters and Branches Responsible for Late Lee Seon-ho's Fatal Accident

Including Dongbang Original Contractor 'Pyeongtaek Dongbang I-Port'... Comprehensive Inspection of Safety Management System

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The authorities have launched a special inspection to prevent recurrence of accidents targeting the headquarters and nationwide branches of 'Dongbang,' the primary contractor of the young worker Lee Seon-ho, who died last month after being crushed by a container wing at Pyeongtaek Port.

On the 24th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that it had begun a special inspection of Dongbang's headquarters and nationwide branches. This inspection, which will continue until the 8th of next month, is being conducted under the supervision of the local employment and labor offices, with participation from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. The inspection targets also include 'Pyeongtaek Dongbang I-Port,' the primary contractor affiliated with Dongbang.

Pyeongtaek Dongbang I-Port signed contracts with shipping companies and port service providers and outsourced cargo handling and transportation work to Dongbang. Lee Seon-ho belonged to a subcontractor supplying labor to Dongbang. The purpose of this inspection is to review the complex primary and subcontractor structure at the port and to correct the safety management system.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to focus on checking not only the safety management issues at the cargo handling and transportation sites of Dongbang's branches but also whether the safety management system at the headquarters level was functioning properly and whether Pyeongtaek Dongbang I-Port fulfilled its safety obligation as the primary contractor.

The main inspection items include six categories: ▲the CEO and management's awareness and leadership regarding safety and health management ▲safety management goals ▲personnel, organization, and budget execution system ▲hazard factor management system ▲collection of workers' opinions ▲enhancement of safety and health management capabilities of partner companies.

These items serve as criteria for determining violations of duties by management officials under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, which will be enforced starting January next year. According to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, if a serious accident such as a worker's death occurs, management officials can be punished if it is found that they failed to properly fulfill their safety management duties.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to inspect the overall safety management status of the port, including the establishment of safety zones, operation of alarms on cargo handling equipment, provision of protective gear and other safety equipment, and compliance with workers' safety rules.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the police are also conducting investigations targeting Dongbang and the labor agencies to which Lee belonged. They are investigating whether illegal dispatch occurred. Minister of Employment and Labor Ahn Kyung-duk stated, "We will take administrative and judicial actions against any legal violations through thorough supervision," and added, "We plan to guide and supervise so that a safety and health management system that fulfills its role can be established."

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