Enhancing the preventive impact of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act on industrial accidents

Fatal industrial accidents continue to occur even in large corporations, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (SAPA). This study evaluates whether strengthened penalties under SAPA have reduced such accidents. The findings show no clear preventive effect, consistent with prior research and international evidence that harsher punishments alone do not ensure accident reduction. Effective prevention requires on-site safety management systems in which frontline supervisors are accountable for directing workers and ensuring safe practices. This need is particularly critical in food manufacturing industries with hazardous machinery. Accordingly, the study proposes revising Article 4 of the SAPA Enforcement Decree to assign business executives responsibility for ensuring frontline supervisors fulfill their legal safety duties.