Safety gear compliance checks set for Oct. 6–16

Self-inspection period begins Monday; violations to draw fines

Employment and Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon checks the heat index at a logistics center loading and unloading area to assess heat-wave response measures. The ministry ordered immediate improvements for deficiencies, including the installation of temperature and humidity gauges and the expansion of rest facilities. [Ministry of Employment and Labor]
Employment and Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon checks the heat index at a logistics center loading and unloading area to assess heat-wave response measures. The ministry ordered immediate improvements for deficiencies, including the installation of temperature and humidity gauges and the expansion of rest facilities. [Ministry of Employment and Labor]

The Ministry of Employment and Labor will conduct intensive inspections of 1,000 workplaces nationwide next month, checking whether workers are wearing hard hats and safety harnesses and whether forklift and excavator operators are using seat belts. Compliance with safety rules for portable ladder work will also be examined.

The ministry announced Monday that it will carry out a "3+1 Basic Safety Rules" intensive inspection campaign across all industries from Oct. 6 to Oct. 16. The initiative covers three core rules — provision and use of hard hats and safety harnesses, and seat belt use on forklifts and excavators — with portable ladder safety rules added as a fourth.

Of the 253 workplace fatalities subject to accident investigations in the first half of this year, falls were the leading cause of death, claiming 84 lives. An additional 34 workers died in crushing and overturning accidents. Fatalities involving portable ladders have averaged about 26 per year since 2023.

Inspectors will verify not only whether protective equipment is available on site, but also whether employers are providing gear appropriate to the task, managing its use and ensuring workers actually wear it during hazardous operations. From Monday through Friday, workplaces will have a self-inspection period to identify and address any deficiencies on their own.

The heads of 49 regional labor offices will conduct unannounced on-site inspections. Workplaces found to be in violation will face fines and corrective orders, and those that fail to comply with improvement directives will be referred for criminal prosecution.

"Wearing a hard hat, clipping on a safety harness, and buckling up on a forklift or excavator are the most basic safety rules for protecting workers' lives," Employment and Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon said. "Do not treat ladder work lightly just because it seems short and simple — check the safety rules before you start."

In November, the ministry plans to conduct another round of intensive inspections focused on fire and explosion prevention ahead of the winter season.


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