“Reduce a Blind Spot about Asbestos Disposal and Removal”

Technical assistance, training, and consulting for 5,000 small demolition sites
removing asbestos of 800 ㎡ or less by the end of 2014

Mar. 17^th, 2014

The endeavor to protect the health of workers from asbestos, a carcinogen known as its infamous name “a silent killer”, is accelerated.

KOSHA (headed by President Baek Hun-ki) will provide technical assistance, training, and consulting for small scale demolition sites disposing and removing asbestos.

It is hard for the small demolition sites (the total size of asbestos to be removed is 800 square meters or less) to have systematic safety and health measures because of short construction period and insufficient construction expenses.

In response to this, KOSHA hired workers experienced in safety and health management and specialists with high experience of asbestos abatement to support 5,000 small scale asbestos removal sites nationwide from March by the end of 2014.

The specialists will have professional education related to specific workplaces to assist industrial sites more efficient way. On-site consulting will be also provided on whether a workplace is following the safety regulations such as wearing personal protective gears and the standard of working process such as encasement or encapsulation.

KOSHA will provide technical assistance if problems can be easily improved at a site. If a workplace does not follow the legal standard or has high risk of asbestos exposure, KOSHA will ask administrative measures from the local authorities.

In addition, KOSHA posted a list of registered companies, which provide asbestos disposal and removal services received a rating of “excellent” for the safety assessment, on the website of KOSHA and the Ministry of Employment and Labor.  It is also expected to secure the safety of the companies and to improve their technical standard.

The number of workers who are diagnosed with asbestos-related occupational diseases decreased by 4 from 23 in 2011 to 19 in 2012. The number of deaths, however, increased by 2 from 13 in 2011 to 15 in 2012.

An official of KOSHA said “Asbestos removal workers who are directly exposed to asbestos must wear protective gears such as protective clothing or dust respirators.” and added “Asbestos removal should be accomplished through encasement or encapsulation to prevent the release of asbestos into the air.”