28 Deaths in Waste Disposal Industry This Year... 47% More Than the Average of the Past 4 Years

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The number of workers who died in accidents at waste disposal sites has surged this year.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 27th, as of the 20th of this year, 28 workers have died in accidents at waste disposal sites, a 47.3% increase compared to the four-year average from 2017 to 2020 (19 people). By type, 10 died from being caught during equipment inspection or similar tasks, 5 from falls during work, 3 from being struck by unloading vehicles, and 10 from other causes.

The Ministry emphasized adherence to the three major safety measures, stating, "Most fatal accidents at waste disposal sites can be prevented by following basic safety rules." The three major safety measures are: ▲ stopping machinery during maintenance, cleaning, or repairs ▲ installing safety railings and wearing helmets when working at heights or moving through fall-risk areas ▲ assigning a work supervisor and prohibiting worker access in areas where unloading vehicles such as dump trucks, excavators, and forklifts operate.

Under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, which will be enforced from January 27 next year, business owners and management officials who fail to fulfill their responsibilities to prevent worker deaths at industrial sites may be punished. Kim Gyuseok, Director of Industrial Accident Prevention and Supervision Policy at the Ministry of Labor, said, "Before starting work, labor and management should use a voluntary checklist together to implement safety measures," and added, "The government will support the costs of improving hazardous facilities for small and medium-sized enterprises lacking safety management capabilities."

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