Ministry of Employment: "Strict Investigation of Yeocheon NCC Accident... Prompt Identification of Management Responsibility"

On the morning of the 11th, an explosion occurred at Yeocheon NCC Plant 3 within the National Industrial Complex in Hwachi-dong, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do. Police and factory officials are inspecting the accident site. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 13th, Kwon Gi-seop, Director of the Occupational Safety and Health Headquarters at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, visited the site of the explosion accident at Yeocheon NCC factory in Yeosu National Industrial Complex to console the bereaved families and promised a thorough investigation.

Director Kwon visited Yeocheon NCC Plant 3 on the day to inspect the accident situation and said, "We will promptly identify the responsibilities of safety and health management officers and executives through a thorough cause investigation and strict investigation."

Director Kwon also met with the bereaved families of the workers involved in the accident to offer condolences.

On the 11th, an explosion occurred during a heat exchanger tightness test at Yeocheon NCC Plant 3 in Hwachi-dong, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do, within the Yeosu National Industrial Complex, resulting in 4 workers dead and 4 workers sustaining minor injuries.

It was investigated that when the heat exchanger exploded, a circular metal cover weighing about 1 ton flew off and struck nearby workers.

Immediately after the accident, the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Headquarters and labor inspectors from the Gwangju Labor Office ordered a work stoppage at the entire Yeocheon NCC Plant 3 and began accident recovery and cause investigation.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor is examining charges against Yeocheon NCC’s management for violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and charges against the safety and health management officer for violating the Industrial Safety and Health Act.

The Serious Accidents Punishment Act, which came into effect on the 27th of last month, allows for the punishment of management officers who fail to fulfill safety and health obligations when serious industrial accidents such as worker deaths occur at workplaces with 50 or more regular employees.

Yeocheon NCC, a chemical product manufacturer, has about 960 regular employees and is subject to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

If the charges are proven, Yeocheon NCC could become the first petrochemical company to be subject to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

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