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Accident Prevention Efforts Targeting Small-scale Construction Sites 2011.03.04
Author : KOSHA

Accident Prevention Efforts Targeting Small-scale Construction Sites

KOSHA pays special attention to the safety in small construction sites

 

 

Special attention is being paid by Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) toward small-scale construction sites, working on projects worth less than KRW 2 billion. These small sites have seen an increase in accidents for the past years.

 

According to the occupational accidents statistics released by KOSHA (President: Min-Ki Noh), the number of accidents victims in small-sized construction sites (projects worth less than KRW 2 billion) has been constantly on the rise from 14,111 workers in 2008, 14,415 workers in 2009 to 16,095 workers in 2010.

 

In particular, in 2010, the number of accidents victims in such small-scale construction sites accounted for 72% of the total victims in the construction industry as a whole. (In 2010, 22,502 construction workers fell victim to occupational accidents). While accidents in larger construction sites (projects worth KRW 2 billion or more) actually decreased in the past few years, increasing number of accidents are occurring in small construction sites.

 

* No. of accident victims in construction sites with projects sizes less than KRW 2 billion (2008~2010)

(Unit: worker)

 

Category

2008

2009

2010

Accident victims in all construction sites

20,835

20,998

22,502

No. of accident victims in construction projects less than KRW 2 billion

14,111

14,415

16,095

No. of accident victims in construction projects worth KRW 2 billion or more

6,079

5,654

5,177

unclassifiable

645

929

1,230

Unclassifiable category: Accidents occurring in worksites that are impossible to measure the scale of construction projects (Public works, “The Hope and Work Project”, maintenance of construction machinery, etc.)

 

Relatively high number of small-scale construction sites, which account for the majority of such worksites, and their short construction periods usually lasting for only around three months, are the reasons behind the increase in accidents. It is also true that systematic safety management is very difficult in these worksites with short construction cycle.

 

Against this backdrop, KOSHA set out to strengthen safety patrol of small construction sites and make on-site assistance readily available.

 

By the end of this year, KOSHA plans to provide timely support to small construction sites by dispatching guidance officers from construction accident prevention agencies and “construction safety partners.” They will make visits to the worksites and provide consultations in one of the 24 regions of the nation, which they are assigned to.

 

To help guidance officers and safety partners gain easy access to construction sites in residential areas or other small worksites such as dismantling sites of buildings and artifacts, they will be provided with scooters. The scooters will make the patrolling work easier and faster, as they can reach almost any high-risk construction sites such as alleys.

 

The guidance officers will visit the construction sites and provide support on safety techniques on risk factors free of charge. In addition, the construction sites will be provided with educational materials related to accident prevention, while safety campaigns will also take place.

 

To mark the beginning of such efforts, KOSHA held a ceremony to boost the commitment of guidance officers in accident prevention activities. The ceremony was held in the headquarters of KOSHA on February 15 (Tue.) located in Incheon.

 

The ceremony was attended by guidance officers, who will be in charge of on-site consultation. During the ceremony, “zero-accident flags” were attached to the patrol scooters and some participants made a speech about their commitments to accident prevention efforts.

 

<Ceremony to Reaffirm Commitments to Reduce Accidents in Small-scale Construction Sites>

? Date & Time:    February 15, 2011 (13:00~14:00)

? Location:            Headquarters of KOSHA (Incheon)

? Participants:      President of KOSHA,

Director General of OSH policy from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Korea,

Directors of KOSHA who are in charge of accident prevention in construction industry, and, Representatives of agencies in charge of accident prevention projects in small-scale construction sites

 

According to an official from KOSHA, “Construction sites have many innate work hazards. When an accident happens in the industry, it is often fatal. Furthermore, construction sites with limited resources for accident prevention are vulnerable to accidents. I ask for active participation from each worksite so that KOSHA’s efforts can bear fruit and bring about substantial progress in reducing accidents in the industry as a whole.”   

 

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