Gyeonggi Province Conducts Crackdown on 193 Construction Sites for Fire Safety Violations on the 19th

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hoon Reporter] Gyeonggi Province is conducting comprehensive crackdowns and planned investigations into unauthorized hazardous materials at new construction sites to prevent a recurrence of disasters like the fire at a new refrigerated warehouse construction site in Pyeongtaek.

Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced on the 18th that it will conduct comprehensive crackdowns on illegal activities at 193 new construction sites in Gyeonggi region on the 19th.

The crackdown will deploy 193 teams of 506 personnel from fire stations' special investigation teams and patrol teams, with concentrated inspections focusing on ▲installation and maintenance of temporary fire facilities such as fire extinguishers, portable fire extinguishing devices, and evacuation guide lines ▲obstruction of evacuation routes ▲unauthorized handling of hazardous materials.

The Fire and Disaster Headquarters plans to apply a zero-tolerance principle and impose severe penalties upon detecting violations, as the date of the crackdown has been announced in advance.

Last year, comprehensive crackdowns were conducted five times with all inspection personnel mobilized, with target subjects determined by period.

In addition, the Fire Special Investigation Police of the Fire and Disaster Headquarters will conduct first quarter planned investigations into unauthorized hazardous material handling at 760 new large construction sites across the province through March 31st.

The inspection targets are 760 new large construction sites with a total floor area of 3,000 square meters or more.

Priority inspection items include ▲unauthorized storage and handling of hazardous materials (up to 3 years imprisonment or fines up to 30 million won upon violation) ▲proper installation of temporary fire facilities submitted at the time of building permit approval (administrative fines up to 3 million won) ▲safety measures during welding and cutting work (administrative fines up to 2 million won).

Inspection teams consisting of 38 teams of 76 personnel from the Headquarters, North Fire and Disaster Headquarters, and 35 affiliated fire stations will visit sites and conduct inspections and investigations.

The Fire and Disaster Headquarters emphasized that it will impose strong penalties including criminal charges, administrative fines, and administrative sanctions upon detecting violations.

Choi Byung-il, Head of Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters, stated, "We will conduct thorough comprehensive crackdowns and planned investigations to ensure large-scale fires do not occur again at large construction sites," and urged, "Illegal activities threatening residents' safety will be strongly punished in accordance with relevant laws including fire safety regulations, so please pay special attention to ensure fire safety violations do not occur."