What still supports the structure? The Ulsan boiler-tower collapse
Boiler Tower No. 5 collapsed at Ulsan Thermal Power Station on 6 November 2025. All seven trapped workers were ultimately recovered dead.
The search continued after the collapse
The final missing worker was recovered on 14 November. Early missing-person figures were not the final toll.
Later demolition of adjacent towers for response operations must not be presented as footage of the original collapse.
Each stage has a different structural condition
Removing members changes load paths and stability. A structure that was stable before dismantling is not necessarily stable midway through it.
Competent assessment must address the sequence and any temporary support.
HSE · 해체 중 구조 안정 / Structural stability
Check your workplace
- What supports the remaining structure at this stage?
- Who reviews a change to the sequence?
- Who else could enter the collapse zone?
Compare the actual structure with the plan
Unexpected connections, damage or previous cuts can invalidate assumptions. Report the discrepancy and pause the affected work until the method has been reassessed.
Do not improvise a new cutting sequence to maintain progress.
Protect the whole potential collapse area
Plan exclusion zones for foreseeable collapse and debris, including adjacent work and traffic. Unexpected movement calls for withdrawal and reporting, not closer inspection by an unprotected worker.
Putting it into practice
When a connection differs from the drawing, stop and identify the discrepancy precisely. Proceed only after competent review and communication of the revised method.
The cited UK guidance is not a substitute for a project-specific engineering design.
Technical insight
Assess stability at intermediate stages
A complete structure and a partially dismantled one carry loads differently. Sequence and temporary support need to be assessed together.
For each stage, identify the remaining structure, support conditions and access restrictions. A drawing of the final cleared site cannot explain intermediate stability; incident causation remains a separate question.
Korean safety resources
- KOSHA GUIDE C-47-2023 · Demolition safety — search the official catalogue
In the regular catalogue search, enter “해체공사” and select C-47-2023. This opens the official catalogue, not a direct PDF.
Sources
- 뉴스핌 · 울산화력 붕괴 매몰자 7명 사망 확인대한민국 / South Korea
- HSE · 해체 중 구조 안정 / Structural stability영국 지침 / UK guidance
- HSE · 해체 작업 / Demolition영국 지침 / UK guidance