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Photo: Hanwha Ocean |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] A subcontracted worker in his 40s died in a crushing accident in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, prompting labor authorities to launch an investigation into possible violations of South Korea’s Serious Accidents Punishment Act.
According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor on March 16, the victim, identified only as A (48), was killed at around 9:04 a.m. while working at Hanwha Ocean Ecotech, a ship component manufacturer located in Gwangyang.
A was reportedly caught while using a crane to secure an electrical enclosure during work. An electrical enclosure is a metal box designed to house and protect electrical equipment and wiring.
The Yeosu branch of the ministry’s Serious Accident Investigation Division and the Industrial Accident Prevention Supervision Division ordered an immediate suspension of work at the site and launched a formal investigation into the incident.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the accident and whether the company violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act as well as the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.
Under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, employers or responsible management personnel can face criminal penalties if a fatal workplace accident occurs due to a failure to ensure required safety and health measures.
The law applies in cases where at least one worker dies, when two or more workers suffer injuries requiring treatment for six months or longer from the same accident, or when three or more workers develop occupational illnesses such as acute poisoning from the same hazardous factor within a year.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
