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A tower crane stands at a construction site. / Yonhap News

While the overall number of industrial accident fatalities in the first half of this year dropped to an all-time low, fatal accidents during work involving machinery and equipment such as forklifts, cranes, and conveyors have continued in the manufacturing sector. The government will launch intensive inspections targeting 1,000 manufacturing workplaces using high-risk machinery and equipment.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 30th that it will conduct intensive inspections from the 7th to the 11th of next month on 1,000 manufacturing workplaces that use forklifts, cranes, and conveyors. Heads of 49 regional labor offices nationwide will directly conduct unannounced inspections, while the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency will simultaneously carry out patrol inspections and technical guidance.

Fatalities subject to disaster investigations in the first half of this year fell by 34 (11.8%) compared to the same period last year, recording the lowest level for any first half since related statistics began being compiled. In contrast, jamming, falling, and struck-by accidents have continued to occur at manufacturing sites during work involving forklifts, cranes, and conveyors.

In fact, in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, last June, a worker fell while performing wall installation work on top of a forklift pallet. In the same month in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, a worker was struck by a ship component being lifted by an overhead crane, and in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, a worker was caught in a conveyor drive shaft.

The labor ministry plans to examine major accident risk factors for each type of machinery, including collisions, crushing, and falls involving forklifts; struck-by and crushing incidents from heavy loads involving cranes; and jamming and struck-by hazards involving conveyors. It also plans to closely check whether safety devices, such as protective guards and emergency stop switches, are functioning normally.

Prior to the intensive inspections, a self-inspection period for workplaces will run from the 31st to the 4th of next month. Under this approach, workplaces will use self-inspection checklists to proactively identify and improve risk factors, and on-site inspections will subsequently verify whether actual improvements were made and whether key safety rules are being observed.

If violations of the law are confirmed, fines will be imposed immediately along with corrective orders. The ministry plans to take legal action against workplaces that fail to implement corrective measures. Since August, the labor ministry has also deployed manufacturing safety keepers to inspect key safety rules to prevent forklift accidents.

Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon said, "While overall accident fatalities are decreasing, those in manufacturing have increased, requiring us to examine recurring risk factors at work sites more closely," adding, "Neglecting basic safety measures on high-risk machinery and equipment such as forklifts can lead to serious industrial accidents in an instant."

                                                                                                           Kim Nam-hyung