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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] POSCO is once again under intense public criticism following a series of industrial accidents at its worksites, raising questions about the company’s commitment to workplace safety despite its emphasis on technological innovation.
On July 20, five subcontracted workers at the STS 4 steelmaking plant in POSCO’s Pohang Steelworks inhaled hazardous chemicals during cleaning operations. Three workers collapsed on-site—two subcontractor employees and one POSCO employee—while two others experienced dizziness and were transported to a hospital.
Two of the victims, who were admitted in cardiac arrest, regained their heartbeat after hyperbaric oxygen therapy but remain in critical condition. Emergency officials suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, though a formal investigation is underway.
The incident occurred less than two weeks after a fatal accident on July 5 in which one worker died and three others were injured after being exposed to toxic gas. Allegations of delayed reporting and inadequate emergency response triggered widespread criticism of POSCO’s safety management systems. POSCO DX denied the delay but refused to release detailed timelines, further intensifying public mistrust.
Civil society groups have repeatedly pointed to structural issues—especially the concentration of hazardous tasks among subcontracted workers and a lack of transparency in handling chemical-related incidents—as key causes behind recurring accidents. Critics argue that POSCO’s focus on “innovation” is disconnected from fundamental shortcomings in on-site safety.
In July, POSCO launched a company-wide “Safety Innovation Roadmap” and established a Chairman Jang In-hwa–led task force aimed at overhauling safety systems. However, the continued occurrence of serious incidents has raised questions about the task force’s effectiveness and whether executive-level safety commitments are being translated into tangible improvements on the ground.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
