Two workers were struck by a tower crane counterweight at a power plant construction site in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Friday. One died and the other was injured.
According to Yonhap, the accident occurred at around 3:10 p.m. Friday at a power plant construction site in Bucheon being built by DL E&C. A counterweight being hoisted for installation swung out of control and struck workers nearby.
One of the workers, identified only as A, 58, was transported to a hospital in cardiac arrest and was later pronounced dead. Another worker, identified as B, also 58, sustained serious injuries and is receiving treatment.
The Bucheon branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor issued a work-suspension order immediately after the accident and launched an investigation into its cause.
Labor authorities said they will examine whether safety regulations were followed and whether the incident constitutes a violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act or the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.
Under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, a serious industrial accident is defined as one in which at least one fatality occurs, two or more workers sustain injuries requiring at least six months of treatment from the same accident, or three or more workers develop occupational illnesses such as acute poisoning from the same hazardous cause within one year.
kimstar@heraldcorp.com
