After a fire at Anjeon Gong-eop, an auto parts manufacturer in Daejeon, left 74 dead or injured, the National Fire Agency said on the 25th it will launch a "joint emergency safety inspection by related agencies" targeting metal processing business sites nationwide.
The safety inspection will run from the 30th to Apr. 17. Of more than 14,000 business sites across 26 similar industries, including auto parts manufacturing, 2,865 sites with high fire-risk processes such as cutting, forging, and heat treatment will be selected as a sample for intensive inspections.
Inspection teams plan to examine the condition of dust collectors, where metal dust poses a high fire risk, and the safety management of electrical equipment inside factories. They will also check ▲ acts of manufacturing, storing, or handling hazardous materials without authorization in undesignated locations ▲ illegal additions to buildings and unauthorized structural changes ▲ damage to evacuation and fire protection facilities.
Along with enforcement and inspections, the National Fire Agency will provide safety training for on-site managers and workers. In particular, for small business sites with fewer than 50 employees, it will also offer fire safety consulting to help improve facilities.
National Fire Agency Commissioner Kim Seung-ryong said, "Industrial facility fires can easily lead to large-scale casualties, so thorough prevention in advance is more important than anything else," adding, "Through this joint emergency inspection with related agencies, we will closely examine every blind spot on the ground and make every effort to create a safe industrial environment where workers can work with peace of mind."
On the 20th, a large fire at Anjeon Gong-eop in Daedeok District, Daejeon, killed 14 workers and injured 60. Police and fire authorities are continuing a joint forensic investigation to determine the exact cause and circumstances of the fire.