Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jung Sik on Aug. 13 speaks during the third meeting of the Central Disaster Management Headquarters at Government Complex-Seoul on the June explosion at the factory of lithium metal battery maker Aricell in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do Province. (Yonhap News)

By Charles Audouin

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has required safety education for foreign workers at domestic companies and pledged more financial support for improving safety infrastructure at workplaces.

The ministry on Aug. 13 announced measures to bolster safety for foreign workers at small businesses in the third meeting of the Central Disaster Management Headquarters at Government Complex-Seoul on the June explosion at the plant of lithium metal battery maker Aricell in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do Province. 

First, up to KRW 100 million in support will go to installing partitions and improving emergency exits to reduce fire damage and raise expenses to boost industrial safety and health management in the construction sector.

The plan is to give foreign employees basic safety and health education at least once when they are hired. For this, instructions on accident types and safety rules will be translated into their native languages, educational materials with pictures and virtual reality content will be distributed, and an app customized for foreign workers will be developed from November.

A certification system for interpreters in safety and health will be introduced to train specialized teachers of safety education in foreign languages.

The effectiveness of the risk assessment system will also be reviewed. 
 

In this regard, consulting services for up to three months by specialized agencies will go to businesses deemed vulnerable per industrial safety standards, with implementation checks to come within six months. The process will also require consultations with business owners and managers. 

The Korea Risk Assessment System will also undergo review to make it easier for small businesses to conduct such assessments online. The screening of the assessment will be tightened with higher acknowledgement standards, and if a serious accident occurs during the recognition period, the reduction in industrial accident insurance premiums will be recovered. 

Some 200 workplaces with higher risk of fire and explosion that have had no inspections or supervision over the last three years will be checked to see if they properly installed emergency exits, conducted safety and health education, and followed safety rules.

Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jung Sik said, "We'll do our best to upgrade safety management at workplaces to meet the changing environment such as the rise of new technology and industries and foreign workers as well as the aging population."

caudouin@korea.kr