Ministries launch contest for ideas to prevent falls at construction sites

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Employment and Labor are jointly holding a content contest aimed at raising safety awareness at construction sites and uncovering practical ideas and best practices for preventing fall accidents.

Any South Korean citizen with an interest in preventing falls at construction sites is eligible to enter. The contest has two categories: promotional short-form videos and policy proposals and best practices.

The short-form video category invites creative, accessible videos that highlight the importance of fall prevention and key safety rules at construction sites.

The policy proposals and best practices category accepts effective policy ideas related to fall accident prevention, as well as real-world examples of outstanding safety practices from actual construction sites.

Submissions will be accepted from Sept. 14 to Oct. 13 through the contest's official website.

Entries will undergo expert review and public verification for plagiarism before final winners are selected. An awards ceremony is planned for December. Grand prize winners will receive the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport minister's award and the Ministry of Employment and Labor minister's award, each carrying a cash prize of 5 million won ($3,680). Excellence prize winners will receive awards from the heads of co-organizing agencies — including the Korea Infrastructure Safety Corporation, the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, the Korea Construction Engineers Association and the Construction Workers Mutual Aid Association — along with a cash prize of 1 million won each.

The two ministries said fall accidents account for the largest share of fatal incidents at construction sites, and that reducing them requires attention and participation from the government, workers in the field and the public alike. "Effective ideas uncovered through the contest will be actively incorporated into government policy, and the short-form videos and best practices will be widely promoted for use on the ground," they said.