충남 서산시 해미면의 한 채석장에서 하청업체 소속 60대 굴착기 운전자가 낙석 사고로 숨졌다.
12일 서산소방서에 따르면 지난 10일 오후 3시48분께 동료 작업자가 "돌에 맞았다. 무너져 내렸다"고 다급히 신고했다.
출동한 구급대는 현장에서 의식은 있으나 중상을 입은 굴착기 운전자 A(60대)씨를 발견하고 병원으로 이송했다. A씨는 이송 중 심정지가 발생해 심폐소생술을 받으며 병원에 도착했으나, 치료를 받던 중 전날 오후 8시께 사망했다.
경찰 관계자는 "발파 작업 후 굴착기로 잔돌 정리 중 이미 발파해 놓은 암석이 굴착기로 떨어지며 일어난 사고"라면서 "A씨가 암석에 직접 맞은 건 아니다. 굴착기에 맞아 그 충격으로 A씨가 튕겨 나갔다"고 설명했다.
경찰은 원청을 상대로 업무상과실치사 혐의 등을 조사하고 있다.
김한규 기자
Excavator Operator in His 60s Dies in Rockfall Accident at Seosan Quarry
Rock fell during debris cleanup after blasting… Police investigating prime contractor for professional negligence resulting in death
An excavator operator in his 60s working for a subcontractor died in a rockfall accident at a quarry in Haemi-myeon, Seosan City, South Chungcheong Province.
According to the Seosan Fire Department on the 12th, a coworker urgently reported at around 3:48 PM on the 10th, saying "He was hit by a rock. It collapsed."
Paramedics who arrived at the scene found excavator operator A, in his 60s, conscious but seriously injured, and transported him to a hospital. A suffered cardiac arrest during transport and received CPR before arriving at the hospital, but died around 8 PM the previous day while receiving treatment.
A police official explained, "The accident occurred when a rock that had already been blasted fell onto the excavator while cleaning up debris with the excavator after blasting work," adding, "Mr. A was not directly hit by the rock. He was thrown out by the impact after the rock hit the excavator."
Police are investigating the prime contractor on charges of professional negligence resulting in death.
Reporter Kim Han-kyu