Transmission Line Construction Safety Management in Korea: 3 Stages

Transmission line construction safety management in Korea means preparing a safety plan to prevent accidents on transmission sites, carrying out safety work to that plan and reviewing the results. Transmission sites involve work at height on towers, heavy lifts of tower steel and drums, helicopter transport and travel through mountains, where one mistake can be fatal, so identifying hazards by activity at the planning stage is the core of the job. This guide covers three stages.

Contents

• Common Pre-Work Review
• 1. Safety Plan
• Transmission Hazards and Controls
• 2. Safety Execution
• 3. Safety Review
• FAQ
• Reference Standards
• Summary

Common Pre-Work Review

Review the safety plan together with the method statement, the Occupational Safety and Health Act and Electrical Safety Management Act requirements, and any hazard prevention plan required. Prepare a voltage detector and insulation tester, personal protective equipment (workwear, safety glasses, safety shoes, masks, respirators, insulating gloves, hard hats), earthing sets and portable gas detectors, plus a computer and document software for records. The general flow of electrical construction safety is covered in Electrical Construction Safety Management.

1. Safety Plan

1. Review whether the safety plan is effective in practice, linked to the method statement.
2. Confirm the safety organization required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act is in place.
3. Check the safety manager’s qualifications and ability to perform the role.
4. Confirm an emergency response plan exists as the Act requires.
5. Confirm the safety plan meets the Occupational Safety and Health Act and Electrical Safety Management Act.
6. Identify hazards for each transmission activity and confirm prevention measures are included.
7. Confirm the safety budget and spending plan are adequate.
8. Confirm measures for community complaints near the transmission line.

Transmission Hazards and Controls

Hazard	Key controls
Tower work at height	Vertical and horizontal safety lines on legs and arms, fall nets, harness checks
Falling objects	Drop protection for tools, bolts and members; control access below
Heavy lifts	Crane rated load and boom angle review, belt slings, signalers
Helicopter and cableway transport	Obstacle clearance, cargo sling balance, landing zone control
Mountain access, rainy season, thaw	Access road checks; seasonal self-inspections
Underground manholes and tunnels	Oxygen and gas measurement, ventilation

2. Safety Execution

1. The safety manager guides the contractor to comply with safety laws.
2. Witness technical guidance from specialist bodies and follow up on the results.
3. Deliver safety training through the safety manager and have shortcomings corrected.
4. Have safety records kept and check implementation.
5. Check safety measures at hazardous locations and tasks, and workers’ use of PPE.
6. Where safety is inadequate, order safety measures before work continues.
7. Secure working space and install construction fencing to keep out traffic and the public.
8. Install traffic and guidance signs and assign traffic controllers.
9. Prepare safety equipment for the site.

3. Safety Review

1. Confirm safety equipment was bought and issued to workers as planned.
2. Confirm safety signs are installed in the right places.
3. Confirm the safety budget was allocated and spent appropriately.
4. Confirm the safety manager is deployed.
5. Confirm the contractor has prepared and keeps a risk checklist.
6. Report accidents to the client and prepare a review of the cause and recurrence prevention.
7. Plan regular safety training and check training and measures as work progresses.
8. Train and check that safety implementation, measurements and records are kept.
9. Train and check readiness for immediate first aid and rescue.
10. Train and check that rescue equipment and first-aid supplies are on hand.
11. Train and check that waste from deliveries, installation and construction is handled to regulations.

FAQ

Reference Standards

• Electricity Business Act (전기사업법) — law.go.kr
• Electrical Safety Management Act (전기안전관리법) — law.go.kr
• Electric Technology Management Act (전력기술관리법) — law.go.kr
• Electrical Construction Business Act (전기공사업법) — law.go.kr
• Occupational Safety and Health Act (산업안전보건법) — law.go.kr
• Korea Electro-technical Code (KEC, 한국전기설비규정) — law.go.kr
• KEPCO design standards; field practice manuals for transmission and distribution work; Korean Industrial Standards (KS)
• NCS competency unit Transmission Line Construction Safety Management (송전공사 안전관리, 1901070242_22v1; NCS is Korea’s National Competency Standards) — ncs.go.kr

Summary

The most common mistake in transmission safety management is keeping the plan on paper without updating controls for high-risk work — towers at height, heavy lifts and helicopter transport — as the job progresses. Planning depends on hazards by activity, execution on site measures and training, and review on safety budget spending and records. For pre-construction preparation, see Transmission Line Construction Planning. A Korean version of this guide is available here.

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This article restructures the Korean NCS competency unit ‘Transmission Line Construction Safety Management’ (송전공사 안전관리, code 1901070242_22v1) as a practical reference. Actual work must follow applicable standards and the judgment of qualified professionals; always confirm specific values, deadlines and criteria against the latest regulations and client standards.

Written/reviewed by VOLT · Last updated 2026-10-25