Last Year Industrial Accident Deaths Decreased... But Increased in Manufacturing Industry

Disaster Deaths 598... 46 Fewer Than Last Year

Although the number of workers who died in industrial accidents last year decreased compared to the previous year, it was found to have increased in manufacturing businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

According to the "2023 Industrial Accident Status Supplementary Statistics" announced by the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 7th, a total of 598 workers died in serious industrial accidents across 584 cases last year. This represents a decrease of 46 people and 27 cases compared to the previous year.

By industry, the construction sector had the highest number of industrial accident deaths with 303 people (297 cases), followed by manufacturing with 170 people (165 cases), and other industries with 125 people (122 cases).

By business size, 354 deaths (345 cases) occurred in workplaces with fewer than 50 employees, a decrease of 34 people and 36 cases compared to the previous year. In workplaces with 50 or more employees, 244 deaths (239 cases) were recorded, a decrease of 12 people but an increase of 9 cases compared to the previous year.

In construction businesses with fewer than 50 employees, the number of deaths decreased by 45, but in manufacturing businesses with fewer than 50 employees, the number of deaths increased by 14.

The annual number of serious industrial accident deaths dropped to the 500s for the first time last year, but this was a natural decrease due to reduced construction and manufacturing activities caused by worsening economic conditions. Choi Tae-ho, Director of Industrial Accident Prevention and Supervision Policy at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, explained, "Factors such as economic downturn, the effects of implementing the serious accident reduction roadmap, and the expansion of industrial accident prevention budgets have had a complex impact on the reduction of serious industrial accident deaths."

The Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to focus support on consulting, education, technical guidance, and financial assistance based on the "Industrial Safety Diagnosis" to ensure that companies with fewer than 50 employees, to which the Serious Accident Punishment Act was expanded on January 27, promptly establish and implement safety and health management systems.

A Ministry of Employment and Labor official stated, "This year, the second year of the serious accident reduction roadmap, we will consolidate industrial safety and health policy capabilities to produce visible results through substantial changes in the field."

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