Drank Liquid from Company Paper Cup... Unconscious for 52 Days

Accident Occurs at Dongducheon Mid-sized Company Inspection Room
Colleague Drinks Toxic Substance Left for Testing

A worker who drank a toxic substance in a paper cup placed on the company desk, mistaking it for water, has been unconscious for 52 days.

According to the police on the 19th, A (in her 30s), who works at a mid-sized company in Dongducheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, drank a toxic solution containing hydrofluoric acid around 4 p.m. on June 28.

The victim, a female worker in her 30s named A, was responsible for inspecting materials related to optical lenses in the company's testing laboratory. A, who usually drinks water from a paper cup, found a paper cup on the desk after finishing a microscope inspection that day and drank from it without suspicion.

However, the liquid A drank was not water but a toxic solution containing hydrofluoric acid. Hydrofluoric acid, a liquid made by dissolving hydrofluoric acid in water, is colorless like water and is mainly used as a cleaning agent. It was confirmed that B, a colleague at the workplace, had poured this solution into the paper cup for testing purposes.

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A, who was transferred to the hospital in cardiac arrest, had to undergo dialysis treatment with an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) device to remove the toxic solution from her body. Although her pulse and breathing returned to normal, she has not regained consciousness even after 52 days since the incident.

The police are conducting an investigation focusing on whether there was intent or negligence in this case. So far, based on witness statements and closed-circuit (CC) TV investigations, no intent to harm A has been found. However, the police are reviewing relevant laws and conducting legal examinations to determine whether there was negligence in managing the toxic substances.

A police official said, "We are investigating the company on charges such as occupational negligence causing injury and violation of the Chemical Substances Control Act," adding, "We have found some negligence in managing toxic substances and are examining the scope of punishment, but since there are many aspects to review, it is expected to take considerable time until the case is closed."

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