The Tragedy of Disaster Recovery Work on a Rainy Day
Recently, a tragic incident occurred in which a veteran excavator operator lost his life when the excavator rolled over while working at a disaster recovery site.
Mr. A, a 52-year-old excavator operator with 30 years of experience, faced a challenging situation with heavy rain pouring down, a narrow pathway, and a steep slope of nearly 50 degrees, yet he had to work to make a living, never returning to his family.
The bereaved family expressed their frustration, stating they have not been able to hold a funeral yet.
According to a whistleblower, Mr. B, who claims to be Mr. A's son, Mr. A had an accident on the 12th while removing sediment from a blocked drainage ditch on a slope in Gyemyeon, Gokseong County, Jeollanam-do.
Mr. A was found in cardiac arrest in the overturned excavator and was transported to the hospital while receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but unfortunately passed away.
According to Mr. B, Mr. A, who had a flawless safety record over 30 years, was diligent enough to work all 30 days of a month if there was work available. In fact, Mr. A's journals documented detailed accounts of his work.
However, it is reported that he had not received a substantial payment from the construction company he was associated with, even after working. Still, he could not refuse work, as not going out would mean he would not receive future assignments from the construction company.
In such circumstances, Mr. A was involved in a secondary task to remove debris accumulated from heavy rain after completing the initial job in Gyemyeon, on the 12th, at the request of the village chief, when the accident happened.
Controversy Over Responsibility
The main issue surrounding this incident is the lack of site safety management and the controversy over accountability.
Mr. B stated, "The general affairs team leader at the township office only approved the work over the phone, yet no one came to the site despite it being a public construction project. It wouldn't have been easy for a veteran excavator operator, with 30 years of accident-free work, to operate in such an environment with steep slopes and narrow pathways. If someone had been there to supervise, the accident could have been avoided."
He continued, "The military only sent a directive for disaster recovery and stepped back, while the township claims there's no direct employment relationship. The construction company insists they merely introduced Mr. A. I met with the county head yesterday (13th), but he only expressed vague statements like, 'We will try our best,' and 'Please wait a little longer.' Meanwhile, we're caught in a back-and-forth situation and haven't even been able to hold a funeral," expressing his helplessness.
Ironically, the day of the accident, the 12th, was when President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the need for stronger sanctions against recurring industrial accidents during a cabinet meeting.
This situation starkly highlights the reality of our society where the safety of field workers is still not guaranteed.
The Need for Systemic Solutions
Mr. B emphasized, "The disaster is the primary damage, while the accident Mr. A experienced is secondary damage. If this continues, who will be willing to participate in disaster recovery? While natural disasters are unavoidable, we need systemic solutions to prevent such incidents from happening again and to stop fatalities at the work site."
Currently, investigations by the police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor are ongoing to determine the cause of the accident and accountability. However, the bereaved family is left in a frustrating situation, waiting without any guidance or feedback and unable to hold a funeral.
In memory of a worker who had to take on dangerous tasks for his livelihood even on a rainy day, immediate systemic improvements are needed to clarify accountability and establish effective safety management systems.
Image Sources: Photos provided by whistleblower Mr. B, excerpts from Mr. A's journals / Photos provided by whistleblower Mr. B
