The National Fire Agency said on the 23rd it will inspect hazardous materials safety management at fuel-handling stations to prepare for potential instability in oil supplies stemming from the recent Middle East situation.
The National Fire Agency will conduct focused inspections of 2,300 gas stations nationwide for about three weeks from today through the 10th of next month. That is about 20% of all gas stations.
Facilities with signs of risk, where the likelihood of an accident is high, are on the inspection list. ▲ Facilities with violations of the Hazardous Materials Safety Control Act within the past three years ▲ Facilities where frequent changes of the representative raise concerns about a lack of continuity in safety management ▲ Facilities where repeated closures and reopenings have created operational opacity that suggests possible accidents, among others.
In particular, the National Fire Agency will crack down on unlicensed storage tied to "hoarding fuel" amid supply instability, such as stockpiling large quantities of hazardous materials at unapproved locations (warehouses, parking lots, vacant lots, etc.). It will also closely examine whether hazardous materials are being properly managed using transport containers that meet legal specifications.
Depending on the findings, the National Fire Agency said it will respond under a zero-tolerance principle if illegal acts are uncovered. National Fire Agency Commissioner Kim Seung-ryong said, "We will continue to strengthen prevention-centered safety management to do our best to maintain the national energy supply base and ensure public safety."