One Month Before the Serious Accident Punishment Act... "64% of Safety Measures Violated in Manufacturing and Construction Industries"

Ministry of Employment's On-Site Inspection Day... 60% of Workplaces Violate Rules

10,808 Workers in Small Businesses Not Wearing Personal Protective Equipment

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Even with just one month left until the enforcement of the Serious Accident Punishment Act at the end of January next year, it has been found that more than 60% of manufacturing and construction sites are not properly following safety regulations.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 7th, out of 23,473 workplaces inspected for safety measures from July to November, violations were confirmed at 15,108 sites (64.4%). Since July, the Ministry has been operating "On-site Inspection Days" every other Wednesday targeting manufacturing and construction sites to check compliance with the three major safety measures: fall and entrapment prevention measures and the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE). The on-site inspections verify adherence to fall and entrapment accident prevention rules and PPE usage. This is to raise awareness among small-scale workplaces and assist in safety responses before the Serious Accident Punishment Act takes effect on January 27 next year.

The inspections also identified 10,808 cases of workers at small and medium-sized workplaces working without wearing PPE such as safety helmets. By industry and scale, in construction, workplaces with less than 1 billion KRW in revenue, and in manufacturing, workplaces with fewer than 30 employees, accounted for most violations at 73.9% and 84.5%, respectively. In construction, violations were most frequent in workplaces with revenue between 300 million and 1 billion KRW, accounting for 42.1% (4,926 sites), followed by those with less than 300 million KRW at 25.3% (2,963 sites). In manufacturing, 46.3% (1,574 sites) of workplaces with 10 to 29 employees failed to properly follow safety measures. Violations were also found in 37.8% (1,284 sites) of workplaces with fewer than 10 employees.

Accordingly, the Ministry plans to strengthen enforcement regarding PPE wearing during the 11th On-site Inspection Day on the 8th, targeting about 2,000 manufacturing and construction workplaces. Since most fatal accidents occur in manufacturing workplaces with fewer than 50 employees and construction sites with project costs under 5 billion KRW, this aims to emphasize the importance of PPE use among workers. Inspections will also cover manufacturing workplaces with 50 to fewer than 100 employees subject to the Serious Accident Punishment Act and sites involving on-site trainees.

Kim Gyuseok, Director of Industrial Accident Prevention and Supervision Policy at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, stated, "During the cold winter season, the risk of accidents such as slipping and falling on metal or marble stairs and work passages outside buildings due to freezing is particularly high. Wearing safety helmets to protect the head, safety harnesses to prevent falls, and safety shoes to prevent slipping can minimize damage."

He added, "With the Serious Accident Punishment Act coming into effect in January next year, a safety and health management system must be promptly established so that everyone from workers to management can strictly adhere to the basics to protect individual safety and life. If all members faithfully comply, they will not be subject to legal penalties."

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