Five Deaths at Incheon Construction Sites This Year Alone... Construction Union Demands "Employment Authorities Establish Fundamental Measures"

34 Deaths in 2018 Incheon Major Industrial Accident... Frequent at Large Corporation Construction Sites
Construction Union Demands Strict Punishment for Primary and Subcontractors and Abolition of Illegal Subcontracting

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Construction Workers' Union Gyeongin Headquarters held a press conference on the 23rd in front of the Central Employment and Labor Office, urging measures to address the series of fatal falls at construction sites that have occurred since the beginning of this year. 2020.1.23 [Photo by Construction Workers' Union Gyeongin Headquarters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] On the 22nd, just before the Lunar New Year holiday, at a new shopping mall construction site in Songdo International City, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, Mr. A (50), who was working at a building floor height, fell to his death. Mr. A suffered this accident when the temporary steel structure for worker movement collapsed beneath his feet.

On the previous day, the 21st, Mr. B, a 26-year-old day laborer, fell to his death from a 70m-high formwork at an apartment construction site in Wondang-dong, Seo-gu. At the time of the accident, Mr. B was dismantling the formwork installed on the 24th floor exterior wall of the apartment.

Since the beginning of this year, five workers have consecutively lost their lives at construction sites in Incheon alone. The construction labor union criticizes the employment authorities for their complacent administration and poor supervision, stating that most of the fatal accidents at construction sites could have been prevented by adhering to basic safety measures.

The Gyeongin Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) National Construction Workers' Union held a press conference in front of the Central Employment and Labor Office on the 23rd, demanding fundamental safety management measures. They stated, "The Central Employment Office formed a safety and health governance to reduce fatal accidents at construction sites, but it was merely for show, with no discussion on the causes."

The union claimed, "Construction workers work at heights of 5 to 6 meters or more, but many places lack safety railings and work platforms. Illegal subcontracting persists because meeting the construction schedule is considered more important than human lives, exposing workers to significant risks without protection."

They added, "Without fundamental solutions to the problem, fatal accidents at construction sites will repeat every year. Safety measures at sites must be established, strong penalties imposed on both primary and subcontractors, and illegal volume subcontracting, which still occurs at construction sites, must be completely eradicated."

According to the union, there were 34 serious industrial accidents at workplaces in Incheon in 2018, resulting in 34 worker deaths.

More than 60% of serious industrial accidents occurred at small businesses with fewer than 50 employees, but recent serious accidents at construction sites involved sites operated by large corporations.

The union urged, "Although there are calls for government-wide prevention of industrial accidents and strengthened responses to workplaces with serious industrial accidents, no efforts are visible from Incheon City. To shed the stigma of being the city with the highest industrial accident rate among the seven major special and metropolitan cities nationwide, strict inspection of the implementation of related laws and systems, rigorous legal action against employers, and thorough safety management supervision at construction sites are necessary."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.