Death during container unloading at E1 Container Terminal probed under Serious Accidents Punishment Act

Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, E1 discuss automatic-stop sensors and mandatory five-step safety checks

Rep. Heo Jong-sik: "Safety gaps must not emerge as facility nears closure — effective measures need to take hold urgently"

A view of Namhang Pier in Incheon. [This photo is unrelated to the specific article.]
A view of Namhang Pier in Incheon. [This photo is unrelated to the specific article.]

A worker died in an accident while on the job at a major conglomerate's privately financed pier in Namhang, Incheon.

The terminal is scheduled to close within a few years, prompting questions over whether lax safety management and a lack of oversight at the site contributed to the accident.

The office of Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Heo Jong-sik received data from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on Thursday. It showed that a trailer driver identified as A was injured around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday while unloading containers at a storage yard at E1 Container Terminal in Namhang, Incheon. He was taken to a hospital for treatment but died.

E1 Container Terminal, where the accident occurred, is set to cease port operations in 2028 after Incheon New Port opens its Phase 1-2 container pier next year.

Sources in the port industry have raised the possibility that maintenance and safety personnel were scaled back as the terminal moved toward closure, creating a safety blind spot.

Critics say a thorough control system should have been in place given the frequent movement of large loading equipment and heavy machinery at the major conglomerate's privately financed pier.

Authorities, including the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency's serious accidents investigation team, the Central Regional Employment and Labor Office and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, immediately launched an on-site investigation. They are working to determine the exact cause of the accident while closely reviewing whether it falls under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

Immediately after the accident, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and E1 began discussing measures to prevent a recurrence. The two sides agreed to consider installing an anti-lift sensor system that would automatically detect risks, such as abnormal lifting of containers, and immediately stop the crane.

Alongside this, they plan to make mandatory a five-step safety check procedure during crane operations — vehicle arrival, spreader positioning, a pause after lifting to a certain height, confirmation that the vehicle has cleared the area, and normal lifting — to prevent further casualties.

"Protecting the lives and safety of port workers is a top priority above all else," Heo said. "Since this accident occurred at a major conglomerate's privately financed pier, a thorough investigation into the cause must be carried out."

"Particularly at workplaces facing the end of port operations, authorities and companies must ensure effective measures take hold on-site so that no safety gaps emerge," he urged.


gilbert@heraldcorp.com