Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon on Saturday called for strict scrutiny of companies where similar types of serious industrial accidents recur, stepping up pressure on corporate workplace safety.
Speaking at an emergency meeting attended by the heads of 49 regional labor offices across the country, Kim outlined key measures to strengthen workplace safety governance and enforce accident prevention protocols.
Under the directive, regional authorities will substantially step up post-inspection monitoring to prevent fatal accidents from occurring at previously inspected or audited job sites.
In particular, workplaces previously cited for safety violations will face unannounced follow-up inspections to verify that necessary measures have been implemented. Kim stressed that any persistent or unresolved violations must be handled strictly under a zero-tolerance policy.
Kim also took a firm stance on chronic offenders, urging regional chiefs to adopt a grave awareness of companies where similar fatal or serious accidents occur repeatedly.
“Inspectors must approach oversight of companies with repeated accidents with the same gravity and intensity as a special inspection,” Kim said.
Kim also outlined the division of roles between the central ministry and field offices. He noted that the ministry’s headquarters will focus on securing legislative and budgetary support during the regular National Assembly session, while regional offices must focus on their enforcement capabilities on on-site inspections so the public can tangibly feel improvements in workplace safety.
During the meeting, regional agency heads presented key priority initiatives aimed at reducing fatal workplace casualties through the end of the year.
hyejin2@heraldcorp.com
