▲ 금속가공 소공인 대상 특수건강검진을 하는 모습[사진=군포시]     ©

군포산업진흥원과 경기도의료원 수원병원 노동자건강증진센터가 추진하는 금속가공 소공인 대상 통합 건강보건 지원사업이 작업환경 개선과 직업병 조기 발견 등 성과를 내고 있다.

양 기관은 2023년부터 금속가공 소공인의 산업재해와 직업병 예방을 위해 작업장 위험성 평가, 환경 개선, 특수건강진단, 예방교육, 건강상담 등을 지원하고 있다.

지난해 환경 개선을 마친 15개 기업의 작업장 위험도는 개선 전 평균 6.7에서 3.7로 44.8% 감소했다. 올해도 8월 말까지 28개사의 위험성 평가를 진행해 이 가운데 17개사의 작업환경을 개선했다.

특수건강진단에는 올해 8월까지 19개사 77명이 참여했으며, 2개 사업장에서는 폐질환이 조기에 발견돼 경기남부 직업병안심센터로 연계됐다.

군포시 당정동 소공인특화지원센터 내 ‘소공인 건강플러스센터’에서는 매월 기초검사와 건강상담을 진행하고 있으며, 하반기부터는 8주 과정의 운동 프로그램도 운영하고 있다. 근골격계 질환 예방, 심폐소생술, 중대재해처벌법 등 안전·보건 교육도 병행한다.

유병직 군포산업진흥원장은 “위험요인 개선부터 질환 조기 발견과 건강관리까지 현장에서 통합적으로 지원하는 데 의미가 있다”며 지속적인 협력을 통해 소공인의 건강관리 사각지대를 줄여나가겠다고 밝혔다.

아래는 위 기사를 ‘Google 번역’으로 번역한 영문 기사의 ‘전문’이다. ‘Google 번역’은 이해도를 높이기 위해 노력하고 있다. 영문 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 전제로 한다. <*The following is [the full text] of the English article translated by ‘Google Translate’ and amended. ‘Google Translate’ is working hard to improve understanding. It is assumed that there may be errors in the English translation.>

Workplace Risk for Gunpo Metalworking Small Businesses Drops by 44.8%

Gunpo Industry Promotion Agency and Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center Suwon Hospital Collaborate on Health Support

An integrated health support program for small-scale metalworking businesses—spearheaded by the Gunpo Industry Promotion Agency and the Workers' Health Promotion Center at Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center Suwon Hospital—is yielding results, including improved working environments and the early detection of occupational diseases.

Since 2023, the two organizations have provided support services—such as workplace risk assessments, environmental improvements, specialized health checkups, preventive education, and health consultations—to prevent industrial accidents and occupational diseases among small-scale metalworkers.

For the 15 companies that completed environmental improvements last year, the average workplace risk level dropped by 44.8%, falling from 6.7 to 3.7. This year, risk assessments were conducted for 28 companies by the end of August, with 17 of them subsequently improving their working environments.

As of August this year, 77 workers from 19 companies had participated in specialized health checkups; notably, early-stage lung disease was detected at two workplaces, leading to referrals to the Gyeonggi Southern Occupational Disease Safety Center.

The "Small Business Health Plus Center," located within the Small Business Specialized Support Center in Dangjeong-dong, Gunpo-si, conducts monthly basic health screenings and consultations. It also launched an eight-week exercise program in the second half of the year. Safety and health education—covering topics such as musculoskeletal disorder prevention, CPR, and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act—is provided alongside these services.

Yoo Byeong-jik, President of the Gunpo Industry Promotion Agency, stated, "This initiative is significant because it offers integrated on-site support, ranging from mitigating risk factors to early disease detection and health management." He added that the agency would continue its collaboration to eliminate gaps in health management for small-scale business owners.