Minister Kim Young-hoon of the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 23rd held a meeting with CEOs of the top 20 construction companies to discuss preventing fall accidents in the construction industry.
Earlier, on the 8th of 4th, a worker fell to his death while working at a new apartment construction site at DL Construction, and on the 3rd, at GS Engineering and Construction. It is said that 60% of fatal accidents in the construction industry are falls.
At the meeting, Hyundai E&C, Lotte Construction, Hanwha, and others presented cases to prevent fall accidents. ▲ Installing work platforms on coastal and super-high-rise site walls for high-elevation work ▲ Marking in red sections where falls and other accidents are a concern ▲ Embedding safety harness anchor hooks in the ceilings of new apartments.
Minister Kim said, "If we follow basic safety rules such as installing safety railings, safety harnesses, and fall-prevention nets, just reducing fall accidents alone could dramatically cut serious industrial accidents in construction," and added, "From the worksites of the top 20 construction companies, please personally ensure, as CEOs, that basic safety rules are strictly followed to reduce fall accidents."
Meanwhile, regarding concerns about the recently announced "comprehensive labor safety plan," Minister Kim said, "We are well aware of the areas that construction companies are worried about after the plan's announcement," and noted, "In implementing the plan, we will not ignore voices from the field, and we will communicate closely and cooperate so that the plan's aim of reducing serious industrial accidents can be fully realized." The comprehensive labor safety plan centers on imposing a penalty surcharge of up to 5% of operating profit on corporations that have three or more fatal accidents in a year.