소규모 하청 기업의 산업재해 예방을 위한 상생협력프로그램의 실태 및 발전 방안 연구

Objective: This study examines the current state of occupational safety and health (OSH) cooperation between large corporations and their subcontractors, focusing on the effectiveness of support programs as well as identifying strategies for sustaining the collaboration. Background: It is common in South Korea for large corporations to subcontract with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Despite the fact that subcontracting can increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness, it can also raise concerns about occupational safety and health, as subcontractors are often faced with higher accident rates due to a lack of adequate resources and support. It is necessary to assess the current status of government-led co-prosperity cooperative programs and devise development strategies. Method: A survey was conducted targeting safety and health managers from 112 large corporations participating in the co-prosperity cooperation program. The survey examined organizational support structures, financial and technical assistance provided to subcontractors, and safety incentive implementation. To enhance the survey findings, eight experts and corporate safety managers were interviewed indepth to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and best practices related to subcontractor safety management. Results: Large corporations and public enterprises generally had structured support systems for subcontractor safety management, mid-sized enterprises exhibited lower adoption rates. The most common forms of support included risk assessments, hazard control, OSH training, and financial aid for safety improvements. The implementation of incentive systems for subcontractors, however, was inconsistent, and many subcontractors had difficulty utilizing the safety resources which were available to them. Conclusion: Effective collaboration requires not only financial support but also the establishment of clear safety criteria, structured evaluation systems, and strong incentives for compliance. Large corporations should refine their support strategies to ensure that subcontractors can independently sustain high OSH standards beyond financial assistance. Application: The findings of this study provide policymakers and corporate decisionmakers with practical insight into designing more effective co-prosperity cooperation programs. Large corporations and subcontractors can benefit from structured incentive mechanisms and industry-specific safety frameworks.