Worker in His 50s Dies at Hyundai Steel Dangjin Plant... Suspected Gas Leak

Collapsed While Inspecting Gas Pipeline Outside Steel Mill
Police and Labor Authorities Investigate Possible Serious Accidents Act Violation

A view of Hyundai Steel Dangjin Steelworks. / Photo by Choi Byungmin

At the Hyundai Steel Dangjin Steelworks, an accident suspected to be caused by toxic gas leakage resulted in the death of a worker in his 50s.

According to the police and workers on the 13th, at around 7:42 p.m. the previous day, a colleague discovered worker A (59) collapsed from cardiac arrest at the Dangjin Steelworks in Songak-eup, Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province. He was transported to a hospital but did not survive.

Worker A, who was in charge of mechanical equipment, is believed to have been exposed to toxic gas while inspecting gas pipelines outside the steelmaking plant.

This facility is known to be a pipeline through which by-product gases generated during the steel melting process, such as nitrogen or carbon monoxide, pass.

According to the police investigation, the site of the accident had previously experienced a gas leakage incident last month. It is reported that worker A was conducting the gas leakage inspection alone.

At the time he was found, worker A was carrying a portable oxygen tank and wearing a mask. He was known to be a senior manager scheduled to retire next year.

A police official stated, "It appears that worker A went to the site for a routine inspection as part of his daily duties. After he went out alone just before the end of his shift and did not return to the office after working hours, employees went to the site and found him collapsed, then reported it."

Based on the medical staff's explanation that the death was due to suffocation, the police plan to request an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

In addition, the police plan to investigate Hyundai Steel regarding the detailed circumstances of the accident and whether there was occupational negligence resulting in death or violation of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

Union representatives have also raised issues, claiming the absence of an in-house safety and health management system.

A representative of the Korean Metal Workers' Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions said, "We have heard that the gas leak detector did not function properly when the in-house fire brigade went to carry out the rescue, so it is necessary to check whether the detector was working properly."

He added, "If this claim is true, it can only be seen as a lack of an in-house safety and health management system. Even the 'two-person team' work instruction principle was not followed, and a major industrial accident occurred while working alone."

A Hyundai Steel representative stated, "We will actively cooperate with the relevant authorities' investigation and do our best to manage the aftermath of the accident and prevent recurrence."

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