Occupational health and safety has become one of the most important issues in employment and labor policies. One common change seen in the global business trend is increase in job outsourcing and sub-contracting. Businesses are getting smaller, and hazardous jobs are being transferred to small-sized firms that are usually vulnerable in terms of occupational health and safety. Moreover, workforce is undergoing various demographic changes with the aging population, the inflow of migrant workers, and an increasing number of less skilled and temporary workers due to increased flexibility in a labor market. In addition, occupational diseases such as musculoskeletal disorder and job stress disorders are getting more prevalent.

Six challenges for improving occupational health and safety in Korean workplace 

First, industrial accidents are on the rise in vulnerable businesses such as small-sized firms. Second, frequent outsourcing and sub-contracting work have led to a diversification of employment types such as contract and dispatched workers. Third, development of new technologies, diversification of production process, and enlargement of industrial facilities have led to an emergence of new uncertified risk factors.

Forth, average annual working hour in Korea is 2,116, the longest among OECD countries. Fifth, Korean economy heavily rely on the outstanding performance of high-risk industries such a ship-building, construction, and chemical industries. Finally, another big challenge is low awareness on occupational health and safety among both employers and employees.

OSH strategy of Korea

To cope with above mentioned challenges in Korea, the government is offering various financial supports to help small firms promote health and safety by improving their facilities. The Ministry of Employment and Labour(MEL) will establish Occupational Health Center in highly industrialized zones where small firms are concentrated. Such centers will increase workers’ access to consult and prevent occupational diseases. The Center is drawing enormous attention from across the world as it is one of the first examples of government-funded health center for workers in small firms.

Second, government will ensure that contractors be more responsible about the safety and health of sub-contractors. In addition, contractors will be obliged to provide information on hazards and risks to their sub-contractors. If sub-contractors violate laws, contractors will have to take actions necessary to correct the violations.

Third, government work hard to secure safety fundamentally to eliminate factors that cause occupational accidents and disease. From last year, MEL has implemented Toxicity and Risk Assessment to evaluate all chemical hazards. It still made reclassification to make sure that highly toxic chemicals are properly controlled.

Fourth, in order to minimize the adverse effects of long working hour on workers’ health and occupational accident, MEL will check health protection measures to monitor workplace to help them reduce working hour. Fifth, focused on fatal accidents in particular, the Ministry is strengthening enforcement against workplace that has high severity accident. Finally, government will highly motivate voluntary prevention activities at workplaces based on a self regulation.

Conclusion

Complying with regulations itself is not enough for effective promotion of health and safety at work. Promoting risk assessment and other voluntary activities for accident and diseases prevention should be one of top priorities in government OSH policy. With successful implementation of this OSH strategy, Korean businesses will benefit the reduction of costs arise from occupational accidents and turnover rates. It will also positively impact to motivate workers, create decent work and improve corporate image.