Gyeonggi Fire Department Catches 7 'Selfish Companies' Secretly Stockpiling Hand Sanitizer Ingredients

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters has consecutively uncovered companies that stored large quantities of unauthorized hazardous materials, including Class 4 alcohol, a raw material for hand sanitizers, exceeding the permitted limit by 735 times without approval.

The Gyeonggi Fire Headquarters announced on the 16th that from February to last month, it conducted a planned investigation targeting 27 oil depots and stockpiling bases in the province regarding hazardous material storage and handling standards, uncovering seven companies that stored unauthorized hazardous materials without permission or exceeded the approved limits.

Among these, the Gyeonggi Fire Headquarters booked six companies and imposed fines on one company.

Company A was caught storing Class 4 alcohols 735 times above the standard limit in front of the indoor storage and general warehouse without approval from the local fire station. The Gyeonggi Fire Headquarters booked the company on charges of unauthorized hazardous material storage and handling violations. Storing or handling unauthorized hazardous materials is punishable by up to three years imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million KRW under relevant laws.

Company B was caught storing 503 times the approved amount of Class 4, Type 1 petroleum (isopropyl acetate) in its indoor storage. The fire authorities booked the company on charges of violating important hazardous material storage standards. Violations of important hazardous material storage and handling standards are subject to fines of up to 15 million KRW.

A Gyeonggi Fire Headquarters official stated, "Due to the increased demand for hand sanitizers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many cases of storing raw materials without approval or exceeding the approved quantities were uncovered," adding, "These are dangerous acts that could potentially lead to major accidents. We will strictly punish illegal activities at oil depots and stockpiling bases and focus on management to prevent recurrence."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.