A fatal accident occurred when a ladder broke while a worker was climbing it, causing him to fall to his death. Among fall-related accidents, ladder-related incidents are the most common.
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It is important to remember that the most fundamental way to prevent ladder-related accidents begins with the proper and safe use of ladders.
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Fall Caused by a Broken Welded Joint in a Ladder
“Hey, Mr. Noh. I have to go to the head office for some work, so please take care of the rest.”
“Alright. Don’t worry—go ahead.”
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Mr. Noh was working at a newly constructed villa site consisting of 12 housing units, where approximately 95% of the construction had been completed. Interior and exterior finishing work was underway. On the day of the accident, Mr. Noh arrived at the site around 7:00 a.m. and worked alone, cleaning and organizing the surrounding area in preparation for the building completion inspection.
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Around 2:00 p.m., the site manager, Mr. Kim, asked Mr. Noh to finish up the remaining work and then left the site.
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“Mr. Noh, take some breaks while you work. You’re working too hard, aren’t you? Haha.”
“Yeah, I’m almost done. Is the electrical work still going to take a while?”
“Yes, I still have more to do. Take care, sir.”
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After saying goodbye to the electrician, Mr. Kim, Mr. Noh climbed a temporarily placed stainless-steel ladder (approximately 3.5 meters long) to clean the rear side of the building.
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Crack.
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While climbing the ladder to the third-floor level, the ladder suddenly broke, causing Mr. Noh to fall approximately 7.5 meters onto the concrete ground below. At around 9:00 a.m. the following day, he was found bleeding by a nearby resident. Emergency responders were dispatched, and his death was confirmed at the scene.
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Use of an Unstable Ladder with Temporary Welding
The ladder involved in the accident had a welded joint at its midpoint. It is believed that the joint bent and broke while Mr. Noh was climbing the ladder.
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Mr. Park, who was responsible for manufacturing and installing the ladder, stated that the welded joint had only been temporarily welded. He explained that reinforcement welding was planned during the final fixed installation after all work, including boiler installation, was completed. He also stated that he had repeatedly warned both the site manager and Mr. Noh not to use the ladder.
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However, the investigation revealed that the ladder was used as a passageway for painting and finishing work for approximately 10 days, even while it remained temporarily installed.
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In addition, it was confirmed that Mr. Noh was not wearing a safety helmet at the time of the accident. As a result, he climbed a ladder with a temporarily welded joint without wearing protective equipment, and when the ladder broke, he fell outward and suffered a severe head injury. Because there were no witnesses and the accident occurred in a narrow space at the rear of the building, it went unnoticed. He remained unattended for several hours while bleeding, which is believed to have ultimately led to his death.
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Accident Prevention Requires Sturdy and Secure Ladder Installation
When installing ladder-type access routes, welded joints must be thoroughly inspected, and ladders must be securely fixed to ensure a stable and robust structure.
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In addition, in areas where there is a risk of falling, workers must always wear personal protective equipment such as safety helmets. Continuous safety checks before, during, and after work are essential to prevent serious accidents.
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