CEOs of nine companies in the construction, manufacturing, and delivery sector attended the’Industrial Accident Hearing’ held at the National Assembly on the 22nd and officially apologized for the successive industrial accidents. Each CEO has repeatedly pledged to make safety a top priority to create an accident-free workplace ahead of the implementation of the Severe Accident Penalty Act next year.
On this day, the National Assembly Environmental Labor Committee (Hwannowi) held an industrial accident hearing for representatives of nine companies, including POSCO, Coupang Full Film Service, GS E&C, POSCO E&C, CJ Logistics, Hyundai E&C, Lotte Global Logistics, LG Display, and Hyundai Heavy Industries. did.
These nine companies are the companies with the most frequent industrial accidents in the last two years in the field of construction, manufacturing, and delivery.
At the hearing site, Jeong-woo Choi, CEO of POSCO, Notman Joseph Nathan, CEO of Coupang Full Filment Service, Moo-hyun Woo, CEO of GS E&C, Sunghee Han, CEO of POSCO E&C, Young-soo Shin, CEO of CJ Logistics, Wonwoo Lee, CEO of Hyundai E&C, Park Chan-bok, CEO of Lotte Global Logistics, and Ho-young Chung , Han Young-seok, CEO of Hyundai Heavy Industries, was present.
“19 deaths after taking office”… Choi Jeong-woo with his head down
Among the nine companies, the company that received the most criticism was POSCO, which recently had a series of serious disasters. Eight workers have died from industrial accidents in the field since 2018, when Chairman Jeong-woo Choi took office. The number of industrial accident deaths claimed by unions and civic groups is estimated to be 19 cases.
There was no need for an offensive. Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang said, “When looking at the anger of POSCO workers and the public, the three years in office of Chairman Choi seem to be three unsuccessful years.” . Rep. Kim Woong’s Power of the People also stressed, “Even though POSCO has announced that safety is a top priority in management, industrial accidents are not decreasing.”
Chairman Choi bowed his head every time he answered questions from lawmakers. He said, “The company is making investments in facilities with safety as the top priority, but it seems to be insufficient,” he said. “We will create an accident-free workplace including business partners.” He added, “I am very sorry for causing concern to the people with the accident that occurred in a row. I sincerely apologize to the bereaved.”
The lawmakers also pointed out that Chairman Choi was irresponsible for submitting a letter of reasons for non-attendance on the 17th because of a backache. Chairman Choi’s reason for non-show was not recognized. Rep. Lim Ja-min, the power of the people, exclaimed, “As the chairman of POSCO, we should attend the hearing with unlimited responsibility and apologize politely.” Chairman Choi replied, “I had a short thought. I’m sorry.”
Inquiries about the construction industry such as GS E&C, POSCO E&C, and Hyundai E&C also continued. Rep. Ahn Ho-young said, “Every year, more than 500 people die in death accidents at the construction site alone, and backward country-type accidents such as falls, falls, and jamming occur frequently.” The capital was ranked 1st to 3rd with 10, 7 and 4 respectively,” he said.
Regarding this, GS E&C CEO Woo Moo-hyun said, “I am sorry that industrial accidents have occurred frequently,” and said, “With the enactment of the Major Disaster Act, it is expected that the awareness of safety in large companies and SMEs will improve.” POSCO E&C CEO Han Sung-hee said, “We are increasing our investment in safety. We are also developing smart safety-related equipment to prevent accidents, etc.” Hyundai E&C CEO Lee Won-woo also added, “We will do our best to prevent industrial accidents and create a safe workplace.”
Construction and courier industries also suffer from industrial accidents… LGD says “Dangerous work, the original government will do”
Coupang’s logistics subsidiary, Coupang Full Filment Service (CFS), apologized for the death of late Jang Deok-jun, a logistics center worker that occurred in October last year, and promised to prevent recurrence.
Notman Joseph Nathan, CEO of CFS, said, “I sincerely apologize to the deceased Mr. Jang Deok-jun and his bereaved family,” and “I will do my best to prevent recurrence.”
The late Jang Deok-jun died from overwork at his home in Suseong-gu, Daegu in October of last year, while working at the Coupang Logistics Center in Chilgok, Gyeongbuk since June 2019. The Labor Welfare Corporation recognized Jang’s death on the 9th as an industrial accident.
Mr. Nathan said, “I also have a daughter the same age as the deceased, and I can’t even imagine how deeply the deceased’s parents would have been hurt,” he said. “Based on the results of the industrial accident investigation and information, we will continue to improve the working environment. “I will do my best to improve the working environment of workers.”
LG Display promised to prevent’outsourcing of risk’ by performing risky work in the future in relation to the chemical spill accident at the Paju plant in Gyeonggi Province.
This accident, which happened at LG Display’s Paju plant P8 on the 13th of last month, occurred while employees of subcontractors were working to connect pipes. At the time, a toxic substance, TMAH (tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide), was leaked and six employees of the subcontractor were seriously injured.
Related Articles
Hwan-no-wi to hold a “Severe Disaster Law Hearing” on the 22nd…
“Severe Disaster Punishment Act, Limits to Corporate Efforts”
FKI “I’m very sorry for passing the Major Disaster Act… We should strive to prevent’prevention’ rather than’corporate punishment'”
The business community “disruptively frustrated or frustrated with the resolution of the Major Disaster Act…there is a need to stop additional legislation”
LG Display President Chung Ho-young said, “I feel a strict responsibility because workers were injured while working at our workplace. In the case of work related to material hazardous materials, we are committed to communication problems, direct control of work, and risk management. “We are pushing ahead with a way to do the dangerous work yourself.”
On the other hand, the National Assembly enacted a severe disaster punishment law last month that punishes corporate managers in the event of an industrial accident. The essence of this law, which will take effect on January 27 of next year, is that if an accident occurs due to a business entity violating its obligation to ensure safety and health, imprisonment or fines can be imposed on the employer, the manager of the management, the public official or the corporation.