Coast Guard Supplies Ski Helmets to Vessel Crew... "KCs-Certified Equipment Needed"

Jung Heeyong: "Safety Must Come Before Convenience for Those Exposed to Danger"

The Korea Coast Guard has been found to have supplied ski resort safety helmets, which are commercially available, to vessel crew members instead of industrial protective equipment.

According to materials obtained by Representative Jung Heeyong of the People Power Party from the Korea Coast Guard on October 22, the Coast Guard purchased 6,503 vessel safety helmets of the same model as "ski helmets" from 2021 to last month, spending approximately 440 million won.

Representative Jung pointed out that the vessel safety helmets are "sports helmets" for everyday use that have received the Korea Certification (KC), rather than industrial safety gear. He explained that the KC mark, which certifies everyday consumer products, is different from the Korea Certification for Safety (KCs), which is the mark for protective devices and safety gear intended for worker protection.

Coast Guard vessel crew safety helmet (left) and ski resort safety helmet (right). Provided by the office of Representative Jung Heeyong

The Coast Guard had previously supplied KCs-certified products to vessel crew members, but switched to KC-certified products in 2021, citing improvements in mobility, visibility, and durability. However, there have been internal criticisms within the Coast Guard regarding this change.

In the "Field Basic Work Management Status Report" prepared by the Audit Office of the Korea Coast Guard in April last year, it was stated that it is appropriate to purchase and supply safety helmets for field personnel that meet the KCs certification under the Occupational Safety and Health Act or have even higher performance.

Representative Jung criticized, "Supplying ski helmets that do not meet industrial safety certification standards to vessel crew members is an act of administrative convenience," adding, "For personnel who are constantly exposed to danger, safety in emergencies should be prioritized over convenience."

The Korea Coast Guard announced that it will supply safety helmets suitable for industrial sites and in line with the intent of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

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