Problems in Safety Management Capabilities of 18 Public Institutions Including Korea Coal Corporation and Korea Radio Promotion Association... Government Imposes Penalties

First Comprehensive Safety Management Grade Evaluation Conducted... 16 'Insufficient', 2 'Very Insufficient', 0 'Excellent'
Reflected in Next Year's Performance Evaluation... Insufficient Institutions Must Submit Improvement Plans by End of This Month

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jung] It has been found that 18 institutions, including Korea Coal Corporation, Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, and Korea Communications Agency, have issues with their safety management capabilities. None of the institutions were classified as 'Excellent,' the highest rating. The government plans to impose penalties on the related public institutions and link the results to management evaluations, taking follow-up measures such as reducing performance bonuses.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced on the 27th the results of the '2020 Public Institution Safety Management Grade Review and Follow-up Measures,' disclosing the safety capabilities, levels, and performance of 98 public institutions with hazardous work environments such as construction sites. The safety management grade review results will be reflected in management evaluations starting next year.

The safety management grades were evaluated by a professional review team composed of 29 private experts across four fields: construction sites, workplaces, facilities, and research facilities. Until now, public institution safety evaluations were conducted by the relevant ministries managing individual sites, focusing only on site safety levels. However, this evaluation comprehensively diagnosed the establishment of safety management systems (safety capability), implementation of safety activities at each site (safety level), and results such as the reduction rate of industrial accidents (safety performance).

The review team classified the 98 institutions into grades 1 to 5 based on their safety management capabilities. Grade 1 is 'Excellent,' grade 2 is 'Good,' grade 3 is 'Average,' and grade 4 is divided into 4-1 'Caution' and 4-2 'Insufficient.' Grade 5 is 'Very Insufficient.'

For grade 4, institutions with safety capability and safety level items all rated 3 or above but significantly deducted in safety performance due to industrial accident fatalities were assigned grade 4-1. Institutions with any safety capability or safety level items rated 4 or below were assigned grade 4-2.

The two institutions that received the lowest grade 5 were the quasi-governmental Korea Communications Agency and the other public institution Korea University of Technology and Education, accounting for 2.0% of all evaluated institutions. Sixteen institutions, or 16.3%, received grade 4-2. Among these 16 institutions, three public enterprises are Korea Coal Corporation, Korea Midland Power, and Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation. The Coal Corporation and Marine Environment Management Corporation were pointed out for needing procedures for safety work permits and work stoppage requests. Midland Power was found to need thorough risk assessments for each work process.

Other institutions rated 4-2 include Korea Railroad Corporation, Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, Korea Construction Equipment Safety Management Institute, Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, Korea Fisheries Resources Agency (all quasi-governmental), and Ship & Offshore Plant Research Institute, Korail Distribution, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Korea Ceramic Technology Institute, Korea Energy Technology Institute, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Korea Railroad Research Institute, Korea Aerospace Research Institute (all other public institutions).

The review team considered the 18 institutions (18.3%) rated 4-2 and 5 as having safety capabilities below an appropriate level. Fifteen institutions, including Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) and Korea Electric Power Corporation, received grade 4-1. Fifty-seven institutions, including Incheon International Airport Corporation, received grade 3, and eight institutions, including Korea National Oil Corporation, received grade 2. No institution received the highest grade 1.

By type of public institution, most public enterprises, which are large social overhead capital (SOC) and energy institutions, showed 90.3% (28 institutions) possessing safety capability and level. Quasi-governmental institutions showed 78.5% (224 institutions) with safety capability and level. Other public institutions, mostly government-funded research institutes, had 76.9% (30 institutions) securing safety levels.

The government plans to disclose these review results on its website and check improvement achievements to reflect them in next year's safety grade review. From next year, the safety management grade review results will be incorporated into disaster and safety management indicators in management evaluations. Public institutions reviewed this time must submit improvement implementation plans for the review team's recommendations to the relevant ministries and undergo inspections.

The 18 institutions rated 4-2 or 5 must also receive external professional safety consulting and have their management and safety officers complete the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency's safety education programs. The government plans to establish dedicated safety organizations in government-funded research institutes and operate institution-specific safety education programs. Additionally, November 11 each year will be designated as 'Public Institution Safety Day,' awarding certificates of commendation to excellent institutions.

The government will also prepare institutional improvement measures to strengthen safety management for public construction projects. Companies with high industrial accident rates or low safety capabilities will face stricter bidding restrictions, and public institutions will strengthen supervision of construction sites. Public institutions issuing construction orders will be required to set internal performance indicators for all safety-related departments. The government plans to establish a safety management system, including preferential personnel measures for safety-related professionals within public institutions.

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