193 Deaths Across All Industries, Construction Industry Increases Against Trend
The Ministry of Labor released major occupational accident death statistics for the first three quarters of this year. As of the end of September, there were 193 major occupational accident deaths across all industries, a decrease of 20 from the same period last year, down about 9% year on year. Among them, 102 deaths were in the construction industry, an increase of 9 from the same period last year, accounting for over 50% of total deaths and remaining the hardest-hit area for occupational accidents. The manufacturing industry recorded 45 deaths, a decrease of 7 from the same period last year. In construction industry fatal accidents, as many as 62% were fall accidents, showing that safety in work at height remains a key focus for prevention.
New Taipei Records Most Deaths with 31, Factory Office new construction Accounts for 20
By county and city, New Taipei City recorded the most deaths in the first three quarters with 31, followed by Kaohsiung City with 27. Compared with the same period last year, deaths in Taichung City and Changhua County each decreased by 11, while New Taipei City and Kaohsiung City each increased by 6. Further analysis of construction accident sites shows nearly 90% occurred in private construction projects, of which factory office new construction projects accounted for 20 deaths, including 7 in technology factory projects, with 4 occurring within science parks.
Technology Factory Expansion Wave, Complex Construction Interfaces Pose High Risks
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration pointed out that with continued investment by the technology industry, demand for factory new construction and expansion projects has increased. Coupled with large project scale, complex special construction methods, multiple contractors entering sites simultaneously, as well as construction schedules and interface coordination factors, construction site safety management faces greater challenges. To reduce occupational accident risks in technology factory projects, the Ministry of Labor plans to promote three measures to strengthen source management and construction supervision.
Three Measures to Strengthen Inspections, Introducing Third-Party Supervision
The first is inter-ministerial joint inspections, which will invite the National Science and Technology Council and other relevant agencies to discuss safety management measures for construction projects in science parks, and promote joint inspections based on project risks and construction stages; it will also cooperate with the National Land Management Agency of the Ministry of the Interior to strengthen oversight of private construction projects from the source of building management. The second is promoting third-party safety supervision, which will invite senior executives of the technology industry for discussions, require project owners to strengthen construction safety governance, and evaluate introducing third-party supervision and review mechanisms to examine project planning, construction management and contractor safety management. The third is launching special inspections of technology factory projects, targeting technology factories under construction nationwide, focusing on high-risk operations, construction safety protection, contractor management and on-site occupational safety and health measures, and urging implementation of risk assessments at each stage.
Over 70% of Deceased Were Subcontractor Workers, Legal Amendments Clarify Responsibilities
In addition to technology factory management, multi-level contracting is also a key focus for prevention. Statistics show that more than 70% of deceased workers in the construction industry were subcontractor workers, reflecting room for improvement in machinery and equipment entry, personnel control and safety education and training when projects are subcontracted layer by layer or multiple firms work together. The Ministry of Labor has amended the inspection notes for Article 26 and Article 27 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, requiring primary employers to clearly define management responsibilities and strengthen coordination of construction interfaces, to avoid exposing workers to danger due to management omissions or unclear responsibilities.