KORAIL Aims to Nip Accidents in the Bud

KORAIL receives KOSHA 18001

October 7, 2011 (Friday)

Korea Railroad (KORAIL) is the operator of Korea Train Express (KTX), which has been mired in small and large scale malfunctions earlier this year. KORAIL has established advanced safety and health management system (OSHMS) and is set to recover its reputation.

As a part of monitoring enterprise-wide safety and health system, KORAIL has begun the process for OSH management certification from the start of this year, targeting 22 offices around the nation. On October 10 (Mon.), seven of these offices were awarded KOSHA 18001 (the OSHMS certification) by Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA, President: Baek, Hun-Ki).

* Seven KORAIL offices that are awarded KOSHA 18001: KORAIL HQ, Metropolitan train repair team, facility office of Gyeongju KTX, electricity office of Gyeogju KTX, regional office of Daejeon-Chungnam, facility office of Osong KTX, and electricity office of Osong KTX

The rest of 15 offices are up to the task for receiving KOSHA 18001. By taking additional endeavors to identify and remedy the hazards and risks through the risk assessments, the 15 offices aim to receive the certification by the end of this year.

KOSHA has launched step-by-step evaluation towards the seven certified offices, including site reviews, risk assessment, and the monitoring of the management. The offices that have satisfied the certification criteria were awarded with the certificates and certification plaques of KOSHA 18001 at the KORAIL HQ in Daejon-si on October 10, 2011 (Mon.). 

KOSHA 18001 guides employers to set up management principles with the interest in safety and health, and provides necessary manuals, procedures, and guidance for the implementation. The certification scheme started in 1999 by KOSHA in order to prevent occupational accidents and minimize the losses of enterprises through joint efforts for improvement made by workers and employers.

Since its inception in 1999, a total of 866 workplaces have been awarded with KOSHA 18001, and this includes the 192 certified workplaces that were added to the list beginning this year until September. With many positive effects of the certification such as a 25% reduction in accidents at work, and higher safety awareness among workers and employers to name a few, more workplaces are applying for KOSHA 18001.

Based on the OSH management system established recently, KORAIL will increase on-site inspection of the facilities, secure competent safety professionals, and strengthen safety and health training, which are all aimed at guaranteeing safety. These developments will help KORAIL to set itself free from the negative reputation of the past, and improve its image as a railroad company providing safe and convenient service to its customers.

“Through the certification of KOSHA 18001 KORAIL, a railroad company providing an effective means for transportation as well as playing the pivotal role in the economic development of the nation, will be able to provide more reliable service to its customers while ensuring the safety of the passengers.” said President Baek of KOSHA.