Ulsan Metal Company Factory: Fatal Fall from 7m Height
A worker in his 40s died after falling 7m during ventilation fan installation at a metal factory in Ulsan. Inadequate safety measures during high-altitude work are presumed to be the cause. Urgent compliance with basic safety rules, including thorough risk assessment and wearing safety harnesses, is needed. Employers must fulfill their duty to ensure worker safety under relevant laws.
Summary
A worker in his 40s died after falling from a height of 7m while installing a ventilation fan at a metal company factory in Ulju-gun, Ulsan. This accident appears to have occurred due to inadequate safety measures during high-altitude work. It is urgent that basic safety rules, such as thorough risk assessment before work, wearing safety harnesses, and installing fall prevention facilities, are observed at the site. According to relevant laws, the employer must fulfill their duty to ensure worker safety.
Incident Overview
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Date/Time | Around 3:29 PM on the 16th |
| Location | A metal company factory in Onsan-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan |
| Accident Type | Fall |
| Victim | Worker in his 40s (deceased) |
Key Cause Analysis
Q. Why did this accident occur?
- Human Factors: Given the fall from a 7m height during ventilation fan installation, it is presumed that there was a lack of safety awareness or non-compliance with safety rules by the worker regarding high-altitude work. Non-wearing or incorrect wearing of safety equipment (e.g., safety harness) could be a cause.
- Equipment Factors: There is a possibility that fall prevention facilities such as work platforms, scaffolding, or safety railings were inadequate or not installed. An appropriate work platform or high-altitude work vehicle might not have been provided for the ventilation fan installation work.
- Environmental Factors: The 7m high-altitude work environment itself contained inherent risks, but sufficient safety measures appear not to have been taken.
- Management Factors: A combination of factors is presumed, including inadequate risk assessment and safety work plan establishment before work, insufficient safety training for workers, inadequate provision and instruction for wearing safety equipment, and negligent work supervision. Management and supervision of high-altitude work with fall risks were not properly carried out.
Why it is Dangerous in the Field
In actual workplaces, it is common for workers to not wear safety harnesses due to a complacent attitude of 'this much will be fine,' or to dismantle safety railings for convenience. Especially for non-routine tasks like ventilation fan installation, risk assessments are often neglected compared to standardized tasks, and accidents frequently occur when workers work excessively in unfamiliar environments. Furthermore, working on unstable structures because installing work platforms or scaffolding is cumbersome, or a culture that does not enforce the wearing of personal protective equipment, are major causes of accidents. The tendency to ignore safety rules under pressure to 'finish quickly' even after recognizing risk factors before work also exacerbates dangers in the field.
Prevention Checklist
- Conduct a risk assessment before work and specify fall risk factors and safety measures in the work plan.
- For high-altitude work at 2m or more, always provide personal protective equipment such as safety harnesses and safety helmets, and verify their use.
- Install fall prevention facilities such as work platforms, scaffolding, and safety railings securely, and inspect them before work.
- Educate and supervise workers to attach safety harnesses to attachment points while working.
- Organize and tidy the work environment during high-altitude work, including securing work space and removing unnecessary items.
- Conduct safety training before starting work and ensure workers are familiar with emergency response procedures.
- Supervisors should frequently check compliance with safety rules during work and take immediate action in case of violations.
Related Laws
- Occupational Safety and Health Act (South Korea) Article 38: When working in a place with a risk of falling, the employer must take necessary safety measures, such as installing scaffolding and wearing safety harnesses.
- Serious Accidents Punishment Act (South Korea) Article 4: The employer or responsible manager must fulfill their duty to secure safety and health to prevent serious accidents.
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