SMEs Can Receive 10% Reduction in Industrial Accident Insurance Premiums by Attending Serious Accident Prevention Training

KCCI and KOSHA to Support Response to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act
National Tour of 35 Regions Begins June 11
First-Ever Link to "Industrial Accident Prevention Rate System Employer Education"

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) is joining forces with the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) to provide close support for local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their response to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

On June 8, the KCCI announced that it will hold the "National Tour Seminar for Serious Accident Prevention," beginning at the Gimcheon Chamber of Commerce and Industry on June 11 and continuing through 35 regional chambers nationwide, including Daejeon, Ulsan, Incheon, and Jeju. Notably, this year’s seminar will, for the first time, be linked to the "Industrial Accident Prevention Rate System Employer Education," a program designed to practically reduce the safety management burden for business owners with fewer than 50 employees.

The most significant feature of this year’s seminar is that it is structured to allow SMEs to enjoy tangible financial benefits when they invest in safety. Business owners in manufacturing, forestry, sanitation and similar service industries, and sewerage industries with fewer than 50 regular employees who complete this seminar (the Industrial Accident Prevention Rate System education course) and are recognized for their accident prevention activities can receive a 10% reduction in their industrial accident insurance premiums for one year, starting from the next insurance year. This linked course will be held at eight regional chambers, including Pohang, Daejeon, and Iksan.

In addition to financial benefits, on-site practical training will be greatly strengthened. Since its launch in 2024, the seminars have received overwhelming support from a cumulative total of 77 regional chambers over two years. This year, experts affiliated with KOSHA will again serve as instructors, offering the "Establishment of Safety and Health Management Systems and Risk Assessment" course at 29 regional chambers, tailored to the characteristics and blind spots of each industry in each region.

Kim Hakjin, Head of Education at KOSHA, emphasized the purpose of the education, stating, "The agency is actively supporting the establishment of voluntary safety and health management systems based on risk assessment to prevent accidents in industrial sites. We will expand customized educational programs for management and business owners to strengthen companies’ safety management capabilities and to help workers work in safer environments."

Since the full implementation of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, there has been a strong response from actual industrial sites and the regional business community, which has needed systematic training. In particular, the Daejeon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which will conduct both the risk assessment course and the Industrial Accident Prevention Rate System education course on June 29 and July 15, has reportedly received a large number of participation inquiries from member companies.

A representative from the Daejeon Chamber stated, "Although this is our third year hosting the seminar, there is still strong on-site demand for responses to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. This year, in addition to establishing safety and health management systems, with the new addition of tangible insurance premium reduction benefits, we plan to actively promote the program, especially to local manufacturing member companies."

An occupational safety manager from a small manufacturing company in Incheon who attended last year's seminar commented, "The risk assessment process, which once seemed vague, was explained using examples from our own workplace, so we could apply it immediately on site. This year, I heard that ways to reduce industrial accident insurance premiums will also be presented, so our CEO has decided to attend in person."

Yoo Ilho, Head of the Employment and Labor Team at the KCCI, said, "Even though several years have passed since the full implementation of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, many companies are still struggling to respond on site due to a lack of personnel and budget, so close support must continue. This year, by linking the Industrial Accident Prevention Rate System, there will be a win-win effect of ensuring safety and saving on insurance premiums, so we hope SMEs will actively take advantage of this opportunity."

Panorama of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Photo by Yonhap News

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