Dae-gu Construction Safety Scandal: What You Need to Know About Recent Violations

[iNews24 Reporter Lee Chang-jae] Officials from the prime contractor and subcontractors have been booked on charges of violating the Industrial Safety and Health Act after neglecting safety management at the Manchon Station underpass construction site in Daegu.

On the 10th, the Daegu Regional Employment and Labor Office said it had booked three people — site officials from prime contractor Taewang E&C and two subcontractors — for failing to properly fulfill safety-management duties at the Manchon Station underpass construction site, in violation of the Industrial Safety and Health Act.

After a drill rig tipped over on the 4th, the labor office launched a special inspection of the site and identified seven violations of the Industrial Safety and Health Act, including missing safety railings.

The investigation found the collapse may have been caused by a mechanical defect in the drill rig, and the office ordered that the equipment be replaced.

The office also determined that Taewang E&C did not properly manage its hazard-prevention plan and imposed a fine of 10 million KRW (about $7,500).

The two subcontractors were fined 2.5 million KRW (about $1,875) and 400,000 KRW (about $300), respectively, after inspectors found Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) were not posted on site and that warning labels were not attached to containers holding liquids such as oil.

The labor office said it will continue on-site inspections and strengthen oversight to prevent industrial accidents.