Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn released a set of safety measures on Wednesday to enhance screening for public transport drivers, chemical management at factories and workers’ safety in construction sites in light of a series of man-made accidents.

“The government will reinforce safety management for vehicles used for businesses exposed to bigger danger of large-scale accidents,” Hwang said in a meeting with relevant ministries at Seoul Government Complex.

Hwang said that the government would enforce a rule to guarantee a 30-minute break for drivers when they drive for more than four hours straight, citing a recent car crash on the Yeongdong Express Way. Driving without adequate sleep is thought to be the reason behind the deadly crash which claimed four lives and injured 37 people.The government said that it will also punish drivers who cause fatal accidents and impose suspension of business on transport companies that hire “inappropriate” drivers with a record of drunk driving. 

As for chemical accidents, Hwang said that the government would enforce a three-strike bill to nullify business licenses for companies which fail to report chemical accidents to the authorities within 15 minutes.

“The government will also adopt a policy to immediately order suspension of operation on facilities at risk of causing chemical accidents and posing a threat to the public,” Hwang said.

Under the plan, businesses will be subject to regular inspections and will be required to share know-how on safety management and create a joint taskforce to counter chemical accidents.

In late June, there was a leak of sulfuric acid at a zinc smelting factory in Ulsan. The accident injured four and killed two.

The government also said that it would expand the duty and responsibility of main contractors to guarantee the safety of workers at subcontracted firms. It will ban subcontracted workers from carrying out their jobs without the supervision of their main contractors even outside working hours.

“The government will fix the flawed practice of main contractors abusing their status over subcontractors in order to make sure subcontracted workers can be kept safe,” Hwang said.

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)