Analysis of industrial accidents causing through jamming or crushing accidental deaths in the manufacturing industry in South Korea: Focus on non-routine work on machinery

Abstract

Abstract Industrial accidents caused by equipment (machinery) occur in various forms, such as jamming, cutting, and crushing. Among them, various precise and dangerous machines and equipment in the manufacturing industry continue to be used despite the several regulations established and efforts made. This study analysed the accidental deaths caused through jamming or crushing during non-routine work, in the manufacturing industry from 2014 to 2018. The analysis was conducted on 203 cases of non-routine work among 359 fatalities. The maintenance, repair, inspection, replacement, adjustment, cleaning, and removal of foreign substances were classified into non-routine work. Owing to the use of various machineries and equipment in the manufacturing industry, specialised knowledge is required for their maintenance and management, as well as daily work. Since various types of equipment (machinery) are used in the manufacturing industry, expertise to safely use equipment is required to prevent industrial accidents that may occur during work using this equipment. In South Korea, where heavy industry and chemical industry have developed, many accidental deaths due to non-routine work have been reported under these conditions. Non-routine work accounted for 56.5% of jamming accidents, which were caused by seven major equipment such as conveyor, mixer, food manufacturing equipment, crushing machine, injection moulding machine, press machine, and industrial robot. In addition, the employees did not fully comply with the basic safety rules, such as not turning off the power or using lockout-tagout (LOTO), during the maintenance work. Finally, various measures were proposed to prevent accidental deaths resulting non-routine work.