Nationwide Probe of 100,000 High-Risk Industrial Accident Sites
Despite fatal accidents continuing at industrial sites even after the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, the government has initiated a comprehensive investigation of 100,000 workplaces with inadequate safety management. The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 13th that it will focus on thoroughly examining and promoting improvements in the overall safety and health management standards of these sites by 2026. This nationwide probe is a follow-up to recent consecutive workplace accidents, stemming from President Lee Jae-myung's order to inspect hazardous sites and verify the operational effectiveness of safety regulations on the ground.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor analyzed workplace data, such as the inventory of hazardous machinery, equipment, and facilities, and their accident history, to identify 100,000 workplaces with a high likelihood of industrial accidents, designating them as '2026 High-Risk Industrial Accident Workplaces'. Of these, roughly 30,000 judged to be at exceptionally high risk were further classified as 'Ultra-High-Risk Workplaces'.
Starting in May, industrial safety supervisors from regional labor offices will conduct direct safety inspections and checks for approximately 30,000 ultra-high-risk workplaces. For all 100,000 high-risk workplaces, compliance with safety and health measures based on self-assessment checklists will be verified, with priority given to implementing improvements. The ministry plans to diversify risk management for each workplace: large and medium-sized businesses posing a risk of major accidents among ultra-high-risk sites will be managed exclusively, while small businesses with weak safety management capabilities will receive consulting and on-site guidance in collaboration with organizations like the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency.
This initiative aims to diagnose workplaces' safety management levels, encourage self-regulatory efforts, and fundamentally reduce serious accidents by protecting workers' lives and safety. Violations will be met with strict measures, and any falsification of inspection results will lead to immediate legal prosecution.