Ministry of Employment Launches Investigation into Yeocheon NCC 'Explosion Death'... Will the Serious Accident Punishment Act Apply?

Explosion Accident at Yeocheon NCC Plant 3
(Yeosu=Yonhap News) At around 9:26 a.m. on the 11th, an explosion occurred during a heat exchanger pressure test at Yeocheon NCC Plant 3 located in Hwachi-dong, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do National Industrial Complex. So far, 4 people have died and 4 others have sustained serious injuries. The photo shows the exploded factory. 2022.2.11 [Provided by the Fire Agency. Resale and DB prohibited]
iny@yna.co.kr
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＜Copyright(c) Yonhap News Agency, Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited＞

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Lee Jun-hyung] The Ministry of Employment and Labor has launched an investigation into the explosion accident that occurred at a chemical plant in the Yeosu National Industrial Complex in Jeollanam-do.

On the 11th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that it has begun accident recovery and disaster cause investigation related to the explosion accident at Yeocheon NCC Plant 3 within the Yeosu National Industrial Complex. The ministry has also started investigating the safety and health management officer of Yeocheon NCC for violations of the Industrial Safety and Health Act and the management officer for violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

Earlier that day, at around 9:26 a.m., during a leak test of a heat exchanger at Yeocheon NCC Plant 3, the heat exchanger cover detached, causing an explosion. As a result of this accident, four people, including one Yeocheon NCC employee and three subcontractor employees, died, and four others were injured.

At around 9:26 a.m. on the 11th, an explosion occurred at Yeocheon NCC Plant 3 in Hwachi-dong, Yeosu City, Jeollanam-do, within the Yeosu National Industrial Complex. Four people, including one Yeocheon NCC worker and three subcontractor workers, died in this accident.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Headquarters and the Gwangju Labor Office labor inspectors dispatched to the accident site ordered a work stoppage for the entire Yeocheon NCC Plant 3. The ministry activated the 'Central Industrial Accident Recovery Headquarters' immediately after the accident to handle accident recovery and investigate the cause of the disaster in accordance with the serious accident situation reporting and response guidelines.

Traces of Explosion
(Yeosu=Yonhap News) Reporter Hyung Min-woo = On the morning of the 11th, an explosion accident occurred at Yeocheon NCC Plant 3 in Hwachi-dong, National Industrial Complex, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do. Police and factory officials are inspecting the accident site. Four people died and four others were seriously or moderately injured and transported to the hospital. February 11, 2022.
minu21@yna.co.kr
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The Ministry of Employment and Labor is investigating the accident circumstances while keeping open the possibility of applying the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. Yeocheon NCC operates in the chemical product manufacturing industry with approximately 960 employees. Since the number of regular workers exceeds 50, it is a workplace subject to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, which has been in effect since the 27th of last month.

There is also a possibility that the investigation will expand to Yeocheon NCC's management. The ministry has already conducted a search and seizure at the headquarters of Sampyo Industry, the first investigation target under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, and has booked the company representative on charges of violating the act. The Serious Accidents Punishment Act stipulates that when a serious accident occurs, such as one or more deaths at a workplace with 50 or more employees, management officers can also be punished. Considering that four deaths have already occurred at the Yeocheon NCC explosion accident site, there is a high likelihood that it will be interpreted as a serious accident. If it is confirmed that safety obligations were violated, the Yeocheon NCC employer or management officer may face imprisonment for more than one year or a fine of up to 1 billion KRW.

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