Jeju Fire Headquarters Holds 'Hazardous Materials Accident Investigation Committee Meeting'

Published 26 Oct.2023 09:59(KST)

The Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Fire Safety Headquarters (Chief Kim Suhwan) held a meeting on hazardous materials accident response and the Hazardous Materials Accident Investigation Committee on the 25th.

According to the Jeju Fire Headquarters on the 26th, the Hazardous Materials Accident Investigation Committee is composed of seven members, including the chairman, in accordance with the Hazardous Materials Safety Control Act.

In addition to fire service officers, related experts are included. This ad hoc committee investigates the scene when a hazardous materials fire, explosion, leakage, or diffusion accident results in fatalities, five or more injuries, or property damage exceeding 300 million KRW, clarifies the exact cause, and establishes measures to prevent recurrence.

Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters held a meeting on the 25th to discuss hazardous materials accident response and the Hazardous Materials Accident Investigation Committee.
[Photo by Jeju Fire Headquarters]

Currently, about 1,600 hazardous materials facilities are installed in Jeju, including seven large-scale hazardous materials manufacturing plants.

Over the past three years, a total of 207 hazardous materials accidents have occurred nationwide. Since the establishment of the accident investigation committee after hazardous materials accidents, only two cases have been operated nationwide (August 31, 2022, Ulsan industrial explosion accident; September 30, 2022, Gyeonggi pharmaceutical factory explosion accident), and no such committee has been operated in Jeju to date.

On this day, through an in-depth analysis of the activities, investigation methods, and procedures of the hazardous materials accident investigation committees operated in other regions, a virtual accident response scenario was conducted assuming an accident at large-scale hazardous materials facilities located in Jeju, discussing the identification of accident causes and prevention measures for each situation.

Chief Kim Suhwan said, “Although there have been no large-scale hazardous materials accidents in Jeju so far and the investigation committee has not been operated, we will refer to the matters discussed today to operate a systematic and effective accident investigation committee in the event of related accidents in the future.”

He added, “Above all, we will continue surveillance activities to prevent large-scale hazardous materials-related accidents from occurring.”