POSCO to Transport Emergency Patients from Steelworks by Helicopter

[Asia Economy Reporter Park So-yeon] POSCO has established a system to transport emergency patients using its own helicopters in the event of safety accidents at its steelworks, group companies, and partner company workplaces.

On the 30th, POSCO announced that it installed 45 types of medical equipment, including defibrillators, ventilators, and chest compression devices, on one of the two helicopters it owns in Pohang to enable emergency patient transport. This is the first time in Korea that emergency patients at workplaces are transported using a private helicopter.

POSCO converted its business-use helicopter for dual use as an emergency patient transport vehicle because, in the case of critically ill patients, it took nearly four hours by land to move from regional base hospitals where primary emergency treatment is provided to specialized hospitals in Seoul.

Regional trauma centers that can utilize doctor helicopters are located about 90 km from the Pohang Steelworks and about 120 km from the Gwangyang Steelworks, making rapid support realistically difficult.

Using helicopters, it is possible to transport patients within about an hour from regional base hospitals responsible for primary treatment to specialized hospitals in Seoul and regional trauma centers, thereby better protecting the health and lives of employees.

Along with the helicopter transport system, POSCO has established an emergency patient transport system to regional trauma centers and specialized hospitals for optimal treatment. In particular, it signed an emergency medical support business agreement with Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, a specialized burn hospital, in June.

In May and June, POSCO conducted emergency medical support emergency response drills for severe trauma at the Pohang and Gwangyang Steelworks, respectively, repeatedly training the use of emergency medical equipment installed on the helicopter and the patient transport system using the helicopter.

Choi Jeong-woo, Chairman of POSCO, emphasized safety as the highest value that cannot be exchanged for anything else, stressing safety as the top priority for employees. He stated, "Helicopter transport is a company-level support system established to ensure rapid treatment in the event of safety accidents."

When transporting patients by helicopter, POSCO’s in-house emergency medical technicians board the helicopter, and if necessary, in-house medical staff or medical personnel from regional base hospitals also accompany the transport. The helicopter will operate only from sunrise to sunset, considering safety as the highest priority and weather conditions permitting.

In the future, as part of practicing the corporate citizenship management philosophy, POSCO plans to build emergency contact channels not only for emergency patient transport within workplaces but also with local governments, medical institutions, and other workplaces. Upon request in cases of emergency patients, natural disasters, or urgent crises, POSCO will provide free helicopter transport support.

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