Freezing sites with snowfall

All construction stopped in central part of Korea with only a few working in Southern part of it

Caution on the fire and collapse

8^th January

Snowfall and cold wave that hit the Korean peninsula earlier this year have put the construction work sites on urgent situation.

Even though most construction work sites stopped working, those who cannot stop building, because of short period left by the completion date, have to pay more attention to preventing fire and collapse.

The construction industry says on Jan. 6, most of them postponed their work after the unprecedented snowfall and cold wave began to hit them since the end of last year, adding that they do nothing but listening to the weather forecast.

Construction work sites especially located in Gang-won and Chung-cheong province are idling; only those in Southern part of the country are continuing their construction with relatively fine weather.

The industry is concerned with the situation as they could fail to meet the completion date with this frigid cold likely to go on.

As of now, frozen concrete is not strong enough to be deposited. In addition, the quality of mounding would not be secured as the earth is frozen.

A person concerned said “the cold wave is likely to remain for the time being, and this could delay the construction work eventually hurting the profit.” adding that the current weather condition is not sort of natural disaster which means the company cannot change the design for the delayed period, and this would affect the following processes as well.”

The only thing they can do as of now is to prevent the snow piled up on the materials from freezing for the resumption once the climate is back on the right track.

Despite the bad weather however, work sites that are hurry to complete the work by the due date have to pay attention to prevent fire accidents.

Excessive use of electric heaters in the temporary accommodations together with bonfire cause frequent fires in the work sites. Sparks of the welding process is another reason of fire as they flew on the inflammables such as insulation materials.

To prevent such accidents, managers on the field have to separate the inflammables from the fire and control the use of bonfire and electric heaters.

Meanwhile the snowfall could hurt workers under the scaffold as it collapses because of snow piled up on it, which also leads to fire caused by a short circuit.

Workers should secure safe passage to come and go by removing snow before construction, and take away tent on the scaffolds before it collapses with snow piled up on it.

Further, workers should pay more attention to their health conditions with high possibility of cerebrovascular disorders such as stroke especially for old workers; slips and trips on the frozen earth to hurt them.

A person concerned from KOSHA said “it would be better for companies to stop building in this climate to prevent accidents and secure quality of the work.” adding that those who cannot stop the work however, should find responses against fire, collapse and freezing. End.