Minister Kim Younghoon Conducts Surprise Inspection of Shipbuilding Workplaces... Orders Checks in Eight Regions Including Busan

Violations Found, Including Lack of Fall Prevention Measures

On March 9, Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Younghoon conducted a surprise inspection of a shipbuilding workplace located in the Daebul Industrial Complex, Samho-eup, Yeongam-gun, Jeonnam, to examine compliance with safety regulations and related matters.

Aerial view of Daebul Industrial Complex, Samho-eup, Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do. The Asia Business Daily DB

Shipbuilding workplaces are home to numerous high-risk operations, including the handling of heavy objects such as cranes, hot work like cutting and welding, and working at heights, leading to frequent occurrences of serious industrial accidents.

Furthermore, the number of low-skilled and foreign workers employed through the shipbuilding employment permit system (E-9) increased from 9,128 in 2023 to 11,790 last year, highlighting the need to raise awareness of safety and health.

The surprise inspection revealed several issues, including the absence of fall prevention measures on the top of ship blocks, damage to the lower part of safety ladder platforms, and concerns over potential accidents due to the failure to identify gas pipe branches.

Minister Kim immediately ordered improvements and urged that tailored training on key safety rules for each major process be provided, especially targeting foreign workers who may have difficulty with communication.

In addition, Minister Kim urgently instructed the heads of local labor offices in eight regions with a high concentration of shipbuilding workplaces—Busan, Ulsan, Changwon, Tongyeong, Jinju, Pohang, Yeosu, and Gunsan—to conduct unannounced inspections.

Minister Kim emphasized, "Since a significant proportion of serious industrial accidents in the shipbuilding industry occur at subcontractors, both contractors and subcontractors must work together to strictly comply with safety and health measures, including regular joint inspections. Please ensure that there is not even the slightest negligence in safety management."

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