Gyeonggi-do Reports Highest 32% of Summer Chemical Accidents... Prevention Campaign Until End of August

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is launching a "Chemical Accident Prevention Campaign" to strengthen safety management of hazardous chemical handling workplaces and facilities until the end of next month, as the summer season with a high frequency of chemical accidents approaches.

According to Gyeonggi Province on the 24th, among the 97 chemical accidents that occurred in the province over the past five years (2017-2021), 32 cases (33%) happened during the summer months of July to September.

The main causes were identified as non-compliance with safety standards by hazardous chemical handlers, facility corrosion, and abnormal chemical reactions.

Accordingly, the province plans to visit workplaces that handle large quantities of hazardous chemicals or have a history of accidents to encourage chemical accident prevention, and produce and distribute promotional materials on accident prevention and pollutant emission reduction best practices to over 2,500 companies that manufacture or use hazardous chemicals.

In addition, to prevent chemical accidents in laboratories of universities and research institutions, the province will request 572 universities, experimental analysis institutions, and workplaces within the province to strengthen chemical safety management.

Furthermore, for workplaces struggling with hazardous chemical management, customized consulting and safety education will be provided through chemical concentration measurement and cause analysis.

The province will also promote the operation of a "Safety Diagnosis Day System" to raise awareness among hazardous chemical handlers, representatives, and drivers.

Kim Sang-cheol, Director of the Environmental Safety Management Division of the province, emphasized, "Chemical accidents are unpredictable and can lead to major incidents if not managed regularly. Especially during the summer season with heatwaves and monsoons, the risk of chemical accidents is high, so workplaces need to strengthen their own safety inspections."

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