The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment announced on July 3 that Deputy Minister Lee Ho-hyun visited the construction site of the Gunbuk-Gaya power tunnel in Ham-an, South Gyeongsang Province, to conduct an unannounced safety inspection in preparation for the monsoon season. This inspection follows a similar unannounced check at a transmission tower construction site on the East Coast in June, aimed at ensuring that disaster prevention measures are effectively implemented on-site during the rainy season.
During the site visit, Deputy Minister Lee received reports on the status of power grid construction and disaster prevention measures before inspecting the conduit and vertical shaft construction areas. Key inspection targets included measures to prevent landslides due to heavy rainfall, barriers to block rainwater intrusion, and safety protocols to prevent worker slips and falls.
Power tunnel construction often involves work in confined and high-risk spaces, which can increase safety hazards during the monsoon season. Heavy rains can weaken the ground or lead to water intrusion, potentially resulting in collapses, flooding, or falls, making preemptive inspections crucial.
The ministry plans to verify the safety management system at each stage of power grid construction to prevent disasters during the monsoon season. Particular attention will be given to the drainage conditions on-site, the stability of temporary structures, fall prevention equipment, and the movement paths of workers, focusing on vulnerabilities that could lead to accidents during adverse weather.
Power grid construction is a key infrastructure supporting stable electricity supply and the expansion of renewable energy. However, if safety at construction sites is not ensured, it can lead to project delays and loss of life. The capacity for safety management must be strengthened alongside the pace of power grid expansion.
In light of this, Deputy Minister Lee urged officials from Korea Electric Power Corporation to "mobilize all resources to ensure worker safety" and emphasized the need for thorough preparations to prevent any disaster incidents due to adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain or strong winds as the monsoon season approaches.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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