“KOSHA, Take-off as A Workplace-focused Agency
for Industrial Accident Prevention”

Opening ceremony in the innovative city of Ulsan, on March 7,
promoting innovative measures for accident prevention

Minister of Employment and Labor visited workplaces
and emphasized the safety and health management for partners

March , 7, 2014

KOSHA (headed by President Baek Hun-ki), an affiliated organization of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (headed by Minister Phang Ha-nam), held an opening ceremony on March 7 to celebrate the successful relocation of its headquarters into the innovative city of Ulsan. KOSHA is poised to take off as a center of industrial accident prevention through the reorganization plan of industrial accident prevention project.

The reorganization plan of industrial accident prevention project provides innovative measures to realize problems and limitations of projects so far and to secure the fundamental safety in workplaces.

In the plan, KOSHA proposed three major factors to promote the innovative prevention of industrial accidents: “Systematization of Workplace-focused”, “Improvement of Timeliness”, and “Maximization of Effectiveness”

The reorganization plan was promoted as fatal accidents had occurred in succession last year despite the decrease of accident rate and many thought safety management did not efficiently take root in industrial sites.

The Minister of Employment and Labor attended the opening ceremony and urged KOSHA to become a specialized organization which is workplace-focused as well as pursues industrial accident prevention.

More than 500 persons attended the opening ceremony including Minister of Employment and Labor Phang Ha-nam, Mayor of Ulsan Bak Maeng-woo, members of local assembly, representatives of the automobile and chemical plants in Ulsan area, representatives of labor bodies and communities, local residents, etc.

<Overview of the opening ceremony>

11:00 AM, Friday, March 7, 2014, Grand Hall at KOSHA headquarters (400, Jongga-ro, Ulsan)

After the opening ceremony, the Minister visited SK energy, a large chemical company in Ulsan, checked the safety and health management system for partner companies and observed the joint fire drills dealing with emergency situations in chemical plants.

President Baek Hun-ki of KOSHA said, “Taking this as a momentum, KOSHA will mark a turning point in the development of safety and health in Korea.” He added “I will do my utmost to reach the acme of safety culture in Ulsan, the most industrialized city in Korea.” in his speech at the opening ceremony.