Gyeonggi Fire Department Strengthens Fire Education and Training for Foreign Workers... Master Plan Established

Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters

The Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters is strengthening the initial fire safety education for foreign workers entering the country. Additionally, fire drills will be conducted at workplaces employing foreign workers, and the free distribution of residential fire extinguishers, such as fire alarms and extinguishers, in foreign workers' housing facilities will be expanded.

On the 15th, the Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced that it has established and launched a master plan containing four major innovation measures for foreigner fire safety, including fire prevention measures and the establishment of a rapid response system.

The four major innovation measures include ▲Safe living and working environments free from fire ▲Establishment of a rapid response system to protect lives ▲More global (The Global) Gyeonggi fire services together with foreigners ▲Safety welfare services for foreigners.

First, to prevent fires, the Fire and Disaster Headquarters will continuously expand the installation of residential fire safety facilities such as fire alarms and extinguishers in foreign workers' housing facilities.

Previously, 800 fire alarms and 400 extinguishers were distributed free of charge to 426 dormitories at workplaces employing foreign workers. Consultations with related agencies are underway to strengthen joint inspections of foreign workplaces and initial fire safety education for foreign workers upon their first entry.

In addition, the multicultural village special zone in Ansan, where many foreigners reside, will be designated as a "Fire Prevention Strengthening Zone," and fire safety inspections and fire education training will be intensified. Promotional materials containing behavioral guidelines for 10 types of disasters, including fire, social and natural disasters, and first aid, will be produced in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and other languages and distributed in the second half of this year.

To establish a rapid response system, the Fire and Disaster Headquarters will improve the 119 situation management system functions to identify foreigner accommodation information from the 119 reporting stage for prompt response. A support system for fire drills at workplaces employing foreign workers will be established, and from next month, on-site training will be conducted at 274 workplaces with 15 or more employees.

Earlier this month, the Fire and Disaster Headquarters established a multicultural specialized volunteer fire brigade in the Ansan area to support foreigner safety. Furthermore, after investigating the conditions of residential vinyl houses inhabited by vulnerable groups including foreigners, basic fire safety facilities will be provided.

Additionally, efforts are underway to revise laws to include long-term foreign residents as fire-vulnerable groups, similar to basic livelihood security recipients and persons with severe disabilities, to provide a basis for supporting improvements in their residential environments.

Cho Seon-ho, head of the Fire and Disaster Headquarters, emphasized, "Following a fire safety awareness survey for foreign workers in March, we formed a dedicated task force for safety status research in April, and in May, held fire safety cooperation meetings with employers of foreign workers and related agencies while preparing this master plan. We will implement the master plan thoroughly to drastically reduce fire damage among foreigners."

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