Ministry of Employment Conducts Special Inspection of Sampyo Industry... "High Risk of Additional Accidents"

On the 11th, officials from the Central Regional Employment and Labor Office of the Ministry of Employment and Labor conducted a search and seizure at the headquarters of Sampyo Industries in Jongno-gu, Seoul, in connection with the quarry collapse accident in Yangju-si, Gyeonggi Province, where three workers died. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Lee Jun-hyung] The Ministry of Employment and Labor has launched a special inspection of Sampyo Industry, the first case under the Serious Accident Punishment Act.

The Ministry announced that starting from the 21st, it will conduct a special inspection of all Sampyo Industry workplaces nationwide to promote the establishment and implementation of safety and health management systems. This decision was made based on the assessment that there is a high possibility of recurrence of accidents similar to the quarry collapse accident that occurred at Sampyo Industry's Yangju plant on the 29th of last month.

Last year alone, fatal accidents occurred consecutively at Sampyo Industry's Pocheon plant and Seongsu factory. The Ministry of Employment and Labor believes that there is a high likelihood of additional accidents occurring this year, including another major fatal accident at Sampyo Industry.

The special inspection targets all business sectors of Sampyo Industry, including quarries, ready-mixed concrete, and mortar. Through this special inspection, the Ministry will comprehensively verify compliance with safety and health regulations under the Industrial Safety and Health Act, focusing on key risk factors related to fatal accidents in each sector. For sites violating the law, such as the Yangju plant, the Ministry plans to actively implement various administrative orders to improve safety management levels to prevent further accidents.

Search Operation at Yangju Quarry Accident Site
(Seoul=Yonhap News) On the 2nd, rescue authorities are searching for missing persons using metal detectors at the collapsed and buried site of Sampyo Industrial Quarry in Dohari, Eunhyeon-myeon, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi Province. 2022.2.2 [Provided by the Fire Agency. Resale and DB prohibited]
Photo by Yonhap News
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Additionally, the Ministry will check the establishment and implementation status of Sampyo Industry's safety and health management system. If major deficiencies are found, the Ministry plans to suggest improvement directions to promptly address risk factors.

Kwon Ki-seop, Director of the Industrial Safety and Health Headquarters at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, stated, "Taking this special inspection as an opportunity, we will thoroughly review and supplement Sampyo Industry's safety and health management system and devise measures to ensure safety and health across the entire company." He added, "For workplaces designated as special management targets due to a high risk of fatal accidents under the Serious Accident Punishment Act, we ask that companies implement fundamental improvements necessary for establishing their own safety and health management systems."

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