‘Ineffective’ safety measures under criticism
By Lee Kyung-min
A group of government officials conducted an on-site inspection Sunday of a construction site where a crane collapsed the day before, killing three workers and injuring four others.
While the exact cause is unclear, criticism is mounting that the collapse could have been caused, yet again, by old, faulty equipment or workers failing to follow safety guidelines.
These were the main causes in crane-related accidents this year that have killed 17 workers.
Officials from the National Forensic Service, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Yongin City Government and the police inspected the site in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.
The visit came after an 85-meter-tall crane collapsed at the construction site at 1:11 p.m. The seven casualties, who were working on the crane 75 meters off the ground, fell after the crane broke and collapsed. Among the four injured, one is in a critical condition. The workers were extending the length of the crane, known as telescoping. The crane was imported from France about a year ago, but what is unclear is when it was made.
The collapse came less than a month after the government unveiled measures to prevent deaths caused by old crane.
The measures set up by the Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Employment and Labor ordered that cranes over 20 years old should be scrapped. Cranes used for over 14 years must undergo inspections every two years. Cranes in use for over nine years are subject to inspections of key parts.
Since October, inspections of 6,074 cranes nationwide have been ongoing to determine their safety.
According to the land ministry, of the total, 44.4 percent were 10 years or older, and 20.9 percent were 20 years or older. More than half, or 57 percent were imported and 43 percent were made here.
The measure was in response to a number of deaths that have occurred at construction sites.
In October, a 55-meter-tall, 18-ton tower crane collapsed, killing four and seriously injuring one at a construction site in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.
The collapse, officials said, was caused in large part by old parts breaking in the 27 year-old crane.
Two workers were immediately pronounced dead and among the three critically injured, one person died the following day.
On May 1, a crane at Samsung Heavy Industries’ shipyard killed six people and injured 25 others.
Police said those responsible for not inspecting and seeing that the cranes are maintained properly may face charges of professional negligence resulting in death.