Ministry of Labor and Police Conduct Search and Seizure at SPC Subsidiary Over 'Bakery Factory Death Accident'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the police have launched an investigation into the death of a worker in her 20s at an SPC affiliate bakery factory located in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.

On the 20th, the Gyeonggi Branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Pyeongtaek Police Department reportedly began a joint search around 5 p.m. targeting the SPL headquarters and bakery factory within the Chupal Industrial Complex in Paengseong-eup, Pyeongtaek City.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Pyeongtaek Police plan to secure documents and electronic information related to work procedures and safety measures through this search.

Earlier, on the 15th, worker A (23, female) at the Pyeongtaek SPL bakery factory died after her upper body was pulled into a sauce mixer used for sandwiches while operating the machine.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor believes the accident occurred due to the absence of basic safety measures such as a protective device to prevent entrapment in the mixer.

It was understood that Ms. A was mixing ingredients such as mayonnaise and wasabi in the mixer to make sandwich sauce when the accident happened.

The police have booked one factory official responsible for the accident on charges of professional negligence resulting in death without detention.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has booked SPL CEO Kang Dong-seok on charges of violating the Serious Accident Punishment Act and the Industrial Safety and Health Act.

The Ministry is investigating the fact that out of nine mixers in the factory where the accident occurred, seven did not have automatic protective devices (interlocks) installed, and that the covers of mixers without interlocks were left open.

Additionally, the Ministry is examining whether the factory has a two-person team work regulation, whether safety and health education regulations under the Industrial Safety and Health Act were followed, and whether appropriate recurrence prevention measures were legally established and implemented after two conveyor belt injury accidents occurred at the same workplace in April.

Meanwhile, earlier that day, Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Young-jin, Woo Won-sik, Lee Hak-young, and Jeon Yong-gi, members of the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee, visited the Pyeongtaek SPL bakery factory and received a briefing on the accident circumstances from CEO Kang.

CEO Kang is scheduled to appear as a witness at the Ministry of Employment and Labor comprehensive audit by the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee on the 24th.

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