Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (한국산업보건학회지)

Korean Industrial Hygiene Association (한국산업보건학회)
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Results and Implications of Unannounced Supervision of MSDS Implementation Status at Chemical Handling Workplaces

화학물질 취급사업장 대상 물질안전보건자료 제도 이행실태 불시감독 결과 및 시사점

  • Woo Sub Shim (Chemical Accident Prevention Division, Occupational Safety and Health Headquarter, Ministry of Employment and Labor) ;
  • Yoo Jin Ahn (Chemical Accident Prevention Division, Occupational Safety and Health Headquarter, Ministry of Employment and Labor)
  • 심우섭 (고용노동부 산업안전보건본부 화학사고예방과) ;
  • 안유진 (고용노동부 산업안전보건본부 화학사고예방과)
  • Received : 2023.07.22
  • Accepted : 2023.08.26
  • Published : 2023.09.30
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Abstract

Objectives: Since the material safety data sheets(MSDS) submission and non-disclosure review system was introduced in January 2021, the implementation status of MSDS for chemical manufacturing and importing workplaces being supervised for the first time. Methods: A supervisory team consisting of two labor inspectors and one from the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency directly visited the selected workplaces to check compliance with the MSDS system as a whole. Results: As a result of supervising 214 chemical substance manufacturing/importing workplaces, a total of 241 violations of the law were found in 121 workplaces, or 57% of them. In response, the Ministry of Employment and Labor took legal action on 8 cases in 6 locations, imposed a fines totaling of 249.69 million won on 120 chemical handling workplaces, and took action to correct the violations immediately. Conclusions: Major violations were in the order of non-request for warning signs, non-submission of MSDS, non-execution of MSDS training, and non-posting of MSDS. This shows the reality that employers who handle chemical substances are sufficiently communicating chemical information to workers. In the future, the government will actively implement preparation and submission support and system guidance for the implementation of the MSDS system, while making efforts to ensure that the MSDS system works well in the field through thorough on-site supervision in the future.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

고용노동부 소속기관인 지방고용노동청(지청) 산업안전보건 감독관과 한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원 산업화학연구실 직원, 그리고 물질안전보건자료제도개선에 의견을 주시는 분들께 감사한 마음으로 이 논문을 바칩니다.

References

  1. Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency(KOSHA). Handbook for process safety management; 2022. p. 607-620.
  2. Ministry of Employment and Labor(MOEL). Occupational Safety and Health Act - Article 53 (Corrective measures by the Minister of Employment and Labor, etc.). 2022a
  3. Ministry of Employment and Labor(MOEL). Labor Inspector's Office Regulations - Article 9 (Definition and Target of Workplace Supervision), Order of the Ministry of Employment and Labor No.398. 2022b
  4. Ministry of Employment and Labor(MOEL). Occupational Safety and Health Act - Article 155 (Labor Inspector's Powers). 2022c
  5. Ministry of Employment and Labor(MOEL). Labor Inspector's Office Regulations - Article 11 (Organization of Supervisors), Order of the Ministry of Employment and Labor No.398. 2022d
  6. Ministry of Employment and Labor(MOEL). Occupational Safety and Health Act - Article 110 ~ 115 (MSDS writing and submission ~ Warning signs for substances subject to MSDS). 2022e
  7. Ministry of Employment and Labor(MOEL). Criteria for Classification and Labeling of Chemical Substances and Material Safety Data Sheets, Notice of the Ministry of Employment and Labor No.2023-9. 2022f