Site Manager Arrested After Fatal Seoul Sewage Pipe Collapse; Safety Measures Allegedly Skipped

Authorities have arrested the site manager of a sewage pipe construction project in Suseo-dong, Seoul, following a fatal accident that claimed one life. Police secured a statement from the manager, Kwon, who reportedly admitted to skipping essential safety procedures, including earth retention work, citing difficulties working in the confined space.

The omission of earth retention work, a critical safety measure designed to prevent soil collapse, is now under scrutiny. This development is expected to impact the investigation by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, which is examining potential violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The law mandates that employers implement necessary safety measures, such as earth retention systems, in areas prone to soil collapse to prevent industrial accidents.

Failure to comply with these safety regulations can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment for up to seven years or fines exceeding 100 million won, which is a more stringent punishment than that for professional negligence causing death (up to five years imprisonment or fines up to 20 million won). Police plan to expand their investigation by reviewing safety and construction plans.

The accident occurred around 12:20 p.m. on April 27, when soil collapsed at a sewage pipe replacement site near an apartment complex in Suseo-dong. Three workers were buried, with two managing to escape on their own. The third, a man in his 60s, was rescued in critical condition and later died after being transported to the hospital. Notably, a similar incident involving a fatal soil collapse during sewage pipe work at the Eunma Apartment complex in Daechi-dong last June also revealed inadequate safety facilities, leading to the prosecution of two individuals, including the site manager.