Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Detect 13 Illegal Acts by Hazardous Chemical Handling Companies

Gyeonggi Province investigated illegal activities by hazardous chemical handling companies and uncovered a total of 13 violations, including unauthorized operations and non-compliance with handling standards.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit conducted an investigation from February 3 to 14 targeting 120 hazardous chemical manufacturing, usage, and sales businesses within the province to identify illegal elements during the manufacturing, usage, and sales stages of hazardous chemicals. They revealed ▲1 case of unauthorized usage business ▲8 cases of non-compliance with hazardous chemical handling standards ▲2 cases of failure to label hazardous chemical storage locations and containers ▲2 cases of failure to conduct self-inspections of hazardous chemical handling facilities, according to a statement on the 13th.

Among the major violations, Company A in Ansan City was caught using approximately 10 tons annually of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide for surface treatment of electronic components without obtaining permission from the competent authority.

Company B in Hwaseong City was caught operating despite the emergency shower facility not functioning properly while handling corrosive hazardous chemicals such as sodium hydroxide. When handling corrosive hazardous chemicals, emergency shower facilities must be installed near the handling area and maintained in proper working condition at all times.

Company C in Ansan City stored boric acid and nickel sulfate in storage facilities without separating them by partitions or demarcation lines to maintain necessary spacing considering the reactivity between chemicals, as required.

Investigation Results of Illegal Activities by Hazardous Chemical Handling Companies by the Gyeonggi-do Special Judicial Police Unit

Company D in Ansan City failed to label the storage container of potassium hydroxide with pictograms and hazard warnings, which are mandatory for hazardous chemicals, leading to its detection.

Company E in Siheung City was found to have not conducted weekly self-inspections of hazardous chemical handling facilities and equipment, nor retained records for five years as required, starting from September 2024.

Under the current Chemical Substances Control Act, unauthorized handling of hazardous chemicals is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 100 million KRW. Failure to operate emergency shower facilities, improper mixed storage of hazardous chemicals, failure to properly label hazardous chemicals, and failure to conduct self-inspections of hazardous chemical handling facilities are each punishable by imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 50 million KRW.

Ki-do Gye, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit, stated, "Because hazardous chemicals can cause significant harm to the human body, thorough safety management is crucial." He added, "We will continue to provide guidance on legal compliance to raise awareness among hazardous chemical handlers and prevent violations caused by negligence or minor mistakes, and we will do our best in prevention activities."

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