SUWON — Gyeonggi Province identified 15 safety issues, including torn fall-protection nets, worn safety ropes and poorly maintained electrical equipment, in a second-half inspection of bungee jumping and zipline facilities in the province.
The province said on the 7th that it conducted joint inspections from Sept. 7 to 17 with seven cities and counties — Suwon, Yongin, Goyang, Ansan, Uiwang, Dongducheon and Gapyeong — and facility operators to prevent accidents involving users of leisure sports facilities.
The inspections turned up problems at some sites that could directly affect user safety. At one facility, a fall-protection net installed at the launch point was found torn and in need of repair or replacement. Another facility was advised to install additional fall-protection nets on the right railing of its boarding gate and at the entrance to its launch gate.
At a third facility, the rope on a quick-flight free-fall device had begun to fray, and a welded section of a stairway railing had a protruding metal surface requiring maintenance. The operator also failed to submit documentation on regular equipment inspections and safety training for staff.
A fourth facility was found to need repairs to a worn safety-inspection sign and periodic repainting of steel structures whose coating had peeled. At a fifth facility, inspectors found problems with the wiring branching off from a kiosk power supply and damage to a lighting outlet, prompting orders for rewiring and replacement. The operator was also advised to store safety equipment slated for disposal, such as harnesses, separately from gear still in use.
Of the 15 issues identified, the province issued corrective orders on six, including repairs to fall-protection nets and electrical equipment. It issued improvement recommendations on the remaining nine, including replacement of safety ropes and installation of additional fall-protection nets.
The findings were forwarded to the relevant cities and counties. The province plans to ensure that local governments and operators address the issues by December, and will verify in the first half of next year whether the improvements have been carried out.
"With bungee jumping and ziplines, even minor equipment damage can affect user safety," said Jung Yeon-seok, head of the Gyeonggi Province special safety inspection team. "We will work with cities, counties and operators to see that these issues are fixed, and we will continue inspections to prevent accidents."
