POSCO E&C runs deadliest construction sites

POSCO E&C office in Songdo, Incheon / Korea Times file

By Kwak Yeon-soo

POSCO Engineering & Construction (E&C) had the highest number of workplace deaths among local builders last year, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Monday.

POSCO E&C CEO Lee Young-hoon

According to the government data, POSCO E&C construction sites saw 10 deaths, followed by Hyundai Engineering & Construction with seven, and GS E&C and Bando E&C each having four.

Daewoo E&C, Lotte E&C, Taeyoung E&C, Hanshin E&C, Doosan E&C, Daebang Construction each recorded three deaths last year.

The land ministry said 485 construction workers died at their workplaces in 2018, down 21 from the previous year. The top cause of deaths in the construction sector was through slipping or tripping, accounting for nearly 60 percent.

Among the public construction sites, Korea Electric Power Corporation had the highest death with 12 people, followed by Korea Land & Housing Corporation with 9 deaths. Korea Expressway Corporation recorded 8 deaths while Korea Rural Community Corporation marked 5 deaths.

By region, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, had the highest number of fatal accidents with 14 deaths followed by Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Yongin, Gyeonggi Provice and Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, each with 11 deaths.

“To reduce the number of fatal accidents at construction sites, the roles of construction industry and public sector are important,” Land Minister Kim Hyun-mee said. “We will encourage companies to regard workplace safety as top priority.”

The ministry said it will release workplace fatality data every month starting in July to create a safer environment on construction sites.