A fire that broke out at an auto parts factory in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon last month resulted in 74 casualties. This was not a simple accident, but a disaster that starkly revealed the reality of aging industrial complexes. Experts point out that this is a structural consequence of being left neglected for over 20 years since designation as a national industrial complex without any renovation of aging facilities. The fact that no action was taken despite internal calls for renovation just two months prior is evidence that this tragedy was a disaster foretold.
Fire is not the only threat to industrial complex workers. Musculoskeletal disorders are silently and slowly breaking down workers' bodies. Take the workplace of a domestic semiconductor company as an example. It was found that 78.7% of 136 workers were diagnosed with musculoskeletal disorders such as herniated discs, carpal tunnel syndrome, and finger arthritis. This means 8 out of 10 workers are working with damaged bodies.
The situation is no different in the plant construction field. According to a survey conducted by the plant construction union of 809 workers, 26.1% of respondents reported symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders. Specifically, back pain was the most common at 18.3%, followed by knee, shoulder, and elbow pain. The rate of exposure to work that strains the musculoskeletal system was also significant. The proportion of respondents exposed to work involving repetitive motions for more than 2 hours a day reached 86.5%, and 67.3% worked while kneeling. Additionally, 38.8% reported lifting objects weighing 25kg or more, and 41.6% reported repeatedly lifting objects weighing 10kg or more.
Such working environments for industrial complex workers inevitably put strain on the lower back among musculoskeletal areas. When maintaining the same posture for extended periods or repeatedly performing heavy lifting work, continuous stress accumulates on the muscles and ligaments around the spine. This can increase the likelihood of developing spinal conditions such as herniated discs.
Fortunately, most musculoskeletal disorders including back pain can be improved through non-surgical treatment. This means they can be managed without leaving the workplace for extended periods due to surgery. In traditional Korean medicine, integrated Korean medicine treatment combining acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and Chuna therapy is administered, and scientific evidence has been accumulated. According to research published by Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine in the international journal 'Journal of Clinical Medicine,' integrated Korean medicine treatment showed superior pain reduction effects for herniated disc pain compared to drug treatments such as steroid nerve blocks. While both groups had similar average Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores at the start of treatment, immediately after treatment completion, the Korean medicine treatment group scored 2.45 while the drug treatment group scored 4.33, showing nearly a twofold difference. NRS is a scale expressing the patient's subjective pain level as a number between 0 and 10, with higher values indicating more severe symptoms.
The government and local authorities only began inspecting aging facilities and working environments after the fire occurred. Taking this as a lesson, I hope policies to improve treatment accessibility for workers already suffering from musculoskeletal disorders will also be implemented. The safety of industrial complex workers can only be guaranteed when structural prevention and practical treatment support work together.
