Hanshin Construction CEO visits Siheung site to strengthen seasonal safety checks

Hanshin Construction announced Tuesday that it has stepped up on-site safety and health inspections to prevent health hazards among construction workers caused by the large temperature swings of autumn and to create a safer working environment.

CEO Jeon Jae-sik visited the Siheung Hajung LH Section 2 construction site on Friday to personally inspect worker health management conditions and the safety and health management system for preventing brain and cardiovascular diseases.

The inspection aimed to proactively reduce the risk of seasonal illnesses — including brain and cardiovascular diseases — that can arise from sharp temperature fluctuations in autumn. According to the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, about 40 percent, or 58, of the 144 disease-related deaths recorded at the top 20 construction companies from 2021 through the first quarter of this year were caused by brain and cardiovascular diseases, underscoring the growing need for prevention-focused management.

During the visit, Jeon reviewed three areas: pre-work health checks and stretching routines for workers, intensive monitoring of workers with health vulnerabilities such as older age or high blood pressure, and the status of emergency response systems. He urged site officials to ensure not only thorough health management but also swift initial responses in emergencies and prompt coordination with medical facilities.

"The health and safety of workers must be the top priority under any circumstances," Jeon said. "During the change of seasons, when daily temperature swings are severe, please carry out thorough preventive measures at every stage — from pre-work health checks to emergency response."

Hanshin Construction said it continues to pursue field-centered safety management, with executives visiting sites directly to identify and address risk factors.

"Carefully monitoring worker health, alongside preventing safety accidents, is the starting point of genuine safety management," a company official said. "We will actively push forward with site inspections and preventive activities through the end of the year to achieve our goal of six consecutive years with zero serious accidents."

Meanwhile, Hanshin Construction recently signed a strategic MOU with engineering firm Jeongdo Co. and digital technology company Jix Technology Co. to advance data center and digital twin-based smart construction technology.