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Photo courtesy of Hyundai Engineering |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) has concluded that the fatal collapse of a bridge section on the Sejong–Anseong Expressway, which left 10 casualties, was caused by the unauthorized removal of critical temporary safety supports. The government is now considering imposing the strongest possible business suspension sanctions on Hyundai Engineering, the project’s prime contractor.
According to the Construction Accident Investigation Committee (CAIC), the February accident occurred during the installation and repositioning of a large bridge girder using a launcher. A subcontractor prematurely dismantled the screw jacks—designed to temporarily stabilize the girder—before the structure was secure, directly leading to the collapse.
Investigators also found that the launcher equipment had only been certified for forward movements, yet subcontractors used it for reverse operations as well, constituting a violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Further, discrepancies were found between official work logs and actual operators on-site, highlighting severe lapses in site management.
Hyundai Engineering, responsible for overseeing subcontractor compliance and safety, failed to detect or prevent these violations, according to the committee. The government has pledged stricter enforcement and sanctions, underscoring its broader campaign against industrial accidents.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
