Numerous safety violations have been uncovered at the HL Mando Pyeongtaek plant, where a subcontracted worker died after being caught in machinery. Labor authorities reported a total of 86 violations, including 26 related to safety regulations, resulting in a fine of approximately 280 million won.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced the findings of its safety inspection conducted from August 18 to September 18 at the HL Mando Pyeongtaek plant and its subcontractors. The inspection followed the death of a subcontracted worker on July 22 during maintenance work.
The inspection focused on safety measures against machinery entrapment, the primary contractor's industrial accident prevention measures, the operation of the Industrial Safety and Health Committee, and the safety management system between primary and subcontractors.
A total of 125 violations were identified at the primary contractor's Pyeongtaek plant. Of these, 81 will be subject to immediate legal action, and fines of approximately 260 million won will be imposed for 44 violations.
Among the safety regulation violations, 78 were identified, with 26 related to entrapment, accounting for 33%. Instances included operating machinery with safety interlocks disabled and failing to install covers or barriers on moving parts such as motors and chains on conveyor belts.
Additional violations included the absence of covers on the upper motor connection belts of cleaning facilities and the lack of emergency stop devices at the ends of conveyors. There were also violations related to the absence of conveyor walkways.
Violations related to falls, electric shocks, and collisions totaled 52. These included failures to implement fall prevention measures during maintenance work on equipment and instances where insulation on industrial robot interlock devices was damaged or grounding wires were disconnected. Three violations were identified where the primary contractor neglected to implement safety measures for subcontracted workers.
The operation of the Industrial Safety and Health Committee was also found to be inadequate. The Pyeongtaek plant had not held any meetings from 2021 to this year, with only five meetings actually conducted. When the committee was reconstituted this year, it did not comply with legal requirements regarding committee composition.
The Ministry plans to impose a fine of 85 million won related to the operation of the Industrial Safety and Health Committee. Additionally, fines totaling approximately 170 million won will be imposed for 42 violations, including failure to conduct safety training and inadequate management of safety data sheets.
Four subcontractors were found to have 13 violations. Of these, five will be subject to legal action, and fines of over 20 million won will be imposed for eight violations.
The subcontractor where the deceased worker was employed, Piarodix, was found to have failed to ensure that supervisors conducted safety checks and inspections during maintenance work. The other three subcontractors were cited for failing to implement collision prevention measures for forklifts and not providing special safety training for workers handling benzene.
The Ministry is requiring the Pyeongtaek plant to establish comprehensive measures to prevent recurrence and has begun inspections at HL Mando's Wonju and Iksan plants.
Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon stated, "Accidents caused by machinery in manufacturing plants can be prevented with basic safety measures, including power shutdowns, lockout/tagout procedures, and proper signage. It is unacceptable that such accidents occur even in large corporations. To gain public trust, we must internalize safety through the improvement of risk factors." He added, "The government’s firm principle is that there should be no distinction between primary and subcontracted workers when it comes to the lives of workers."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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