Recently at the logistics center of a logistics company, a large container vehicle struck a worker who was working behind the vehicle when it was backing up to conduct loading/offloading tasks, leading to the death of the said worker. This happened because the driver of the vehicle could not see the worker at the rear of the vehicle.

Similarly, last November saw a sanitation worker being run over by a sanitation vehicle that was backing up, also losing his life. In the same year at an automobile parts production company, a worker’s right foot was caught by the rear wheel of a forklift as it backed up, which also led to the death of the said worker. As such, fatal accidents are repeatedly caused by vehicle-based loading/transporting machines.

According to the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, during the five years since 2013, forklifts have injured an average of 1,115.8 persons every year, and killed 34.2 persons. This survey revealed that the causes of such accidents were lack of safety supervisor, incorrect signal by the person signaling, rapid turn/deceleration, etc. In other data released by an insurance provider, 59.5% of the 316 accidental deaths by vehicles traveling in reverse between 2010 and 2015 were caused by trucks. As such, there is a dire need to establish accident prevention measures for vehicle-based loading/transporting machines.

Therefore, this proposal seeks to ensure workers’ safety and to prevent fatal accidents by creating obligations for the employer to position work supervisors or guides at the scene when the cargo on board is large or significantly hinders vision, if vehicle-based loading/transporting machines such as forklifts, trucks, transport vehicles, etc., are being used for work.

Require the employer to position work supervisors or guides at the scene when the cargo on board is large or significantly hinders vision, if vehicle-based loading/transporting machines such as forklifts, trucks, transport vehicles, etc., are being used for work (Article 56)