Consumer Agency Reports Sharp Rise in Ladder Safety Accidents... 226.5% Increase Compared to Previous Quarter

160 Food Poisoning Cases Reported in Q1 This Year... Hygiene Caution Needed for Oysters and Prepared Foods

Status of Top Items with Increased Damage Cases Compared to the Previous Quarter.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people doing interior work or simple repairs at home has increased, leading to a rise in ladder-related safety accidents.

According to the Korea Consumer Agency on the 25th, the number of consumer hazard cases reported to the Consumer Hazard Monitoring System in the first quarter of this year was 11,455, a 43.0% decrease compared to the fourth quarter of last year. However, ladder-related hazard cases increased by 226.5% to 160 cases. The main cause of ladder-related hazards was falls, accounting for 153 cases (95.6%).

Many injuries occurred from falls while working on ladders for garden maintenance, orchard work, or greenhouse tasks. There were also safety accidents at home involving ladder use for changing fluorescent lights or wallpapering. The age group with the most accidents was those aged 60 and over, with 114 cases (71.7%).

The Consumer Agency explained the increase in such accidents by stating, "It appears that residents in rural or country houses have started full-scale farming preparations or garden management, and more people have been doing simple repairs at home since the COVID-19 pandemic."

The Consumer Agency urged orchard farmers and others not to work alone to ensure immediate help in case of safety accidents. They also introduced a case from March this year where a 5-year-old child fell from a 1.3m high ladder, sustaining wrist abrasions and facial bruises, emphasizing the need for guardians to prevent infants and toddlers from climbing ladders or step stools (small step ladders) at home.

Meanwhile, in the first quarter of this year, hazard cases related to oysters and other prepared foods increased by 62.5% and 22.8%, respectively, compared to the fourth quarter of last year. The Consumer Agency noted that since most hazard occurrences for both items happened at home, thorough hygiene management is necessary when cooking, consuming, and storing food at home.

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