Relaxation of Emergency Exit Installation Standards in Hazardous Material Manufacturing Workplaces... Recognition of Walking Distance Criteria

Ministry of Employment and Labor Announces Legislative Notice for Amendment to Safety and Health Regulations

Under the Building Act, the installation of emergency exits leading to 'direct stairs' (with a walking distance standard of 75m for semiconductor factories) is recognized as compliance with the safety and health regulations.

On the 28th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that it has issued a legislative notice (from August 28 to October 10) for a partial amendment to the "Regulations on Industrial Safety and Health Standards," and an administrative notice (from August 28 to September 18) for a partial amendment to the "Notice on Submission, Review, and Confirmation of Hazardous and Dangerous Prevention Plans for Manufacturing and Others."

Until now, workplaces manufacturing or handling hazardous materials were required to install an 'emergency exit' every 50 meters of horizontal distance. However, with this amendment, the installation of emergency exits leading to 'direct stairs' directly connected to the entrance under the Building Act (with a walking distance standard of 75m for semiconductor factories) is also recognized as compliance with the safety and health regulations.

Additionally, the amendment promotes exemption from the obligation to submit hazardous and dangerous prevention plans when relocating or installing the same model of machinery that has already completed review.

This amendment is one of the improvement tasks announced at the Regulatory Innovation Strategy Meeting on the 24th, aimed at enhancing labor market vitality. It was promoted to increase the practical enforcement and effectiveness of regulations on site while resolving inconveniences raised in industrial workplaces.

Ryu Kyung-hee, Director of the Industrial Safety and Health Headquarters at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, stated, "Industrial safety and health laws should be regulated to enhance the practical effectiveness of safety standards on site," adding, "Following the recent update of the 'Standard Safety Work Guidelines for Blasting,' this time we are improving the distance standards for emergency exits and the submission criteria for hazardous and dangerous prevention plans."

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