▲ On-site investigation in August of last year
The Gyeongbu Line train accident in Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, which resulted in the deaths of two workers who were moving to conduct a facility safety inspection, was caused by improperly designated travel routes and a failure to implement proper safety measures for evacuation from the tracks, an investigation showed.
The Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) announced these findings today (August 14) regarding the collision between a Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail) Mugunghwa train and workers that occurred between Namsunghyeon Station and Cheongdo Station on August 19 of last year.
At the time, the Mugunghwa train struck one Korail employee and six subcontracted workers who were moving to perform a facility safety inspection, resulting in two deaths and five injuries.
The ARAIB stated that the direct causes of the accident were: ▲ work personnel, including project supervisors, setting an improper travel route that forced workers to move with their backs to oncoming trains, preventing them from noticing approaching trains from behind; and ▲ failing to implement safety measures such as immediately stopping work or evacuating even after entering hazardous track areas.
In addition, vulnerabilities in the overall work management and safety control systems were identified as contributing factors, including the omission of travel routes in work consultation documents and inspection checklists, non-compliance with project supervisor designation procedures, deployment of unqualified train lookouts, and inadequate proper placement.
The investigation also revealed that inadequate management, verification, and supervisory functions during the business division's review and approval process of the project plan, as well as poor on-site safety management and work control, acted as contributing factors.
Consequently, the ARAIB classified the incident as a major casualty accident and recommended a total of nine safety measures—three each to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korail, and the Korea National Railway.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has been advised to re-inspect safety measures for work adjacent to operating tracks, secure independent safety control authority for railway operation safety managers, and establish qualification requirements for work supervisors.
Korail has been recommended to improve systems and expand safety facilities, including wireless notification of train operation information, strengthening qualifications and training for train lookouts, installing additional evacuation spaces and doors, and wearing body-sensitive alarm devices. The Korea National Railway has been advised to conduct a full inspection of external travel paths and evacuation spaces in hazardous track areas and formulate plans to provide workplace access gate data.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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