[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 6th the names, hazards, risks, and worker health hazard prevention measures of new chemical substances manufactured or imported in the second half of last year.
The chemicals announced this time include a total of 202 substances, including 79 hazardous and risky substances such as Diethoxymethylsilane, which can cause acute respiratory diseases such as coughing, suffocation, and breathing difficulties even with small inhalation; Bromomethyl-Magnesium, which can cause skin corrosion and severe eye damage upon contact; and Ethylenedibenzoate, which can adversely affect animals and plants.
To protect workers handling these substances, the Ministry notified manufacturers and importers of health hazard prevention measures such as installing ventilation facilities and wearing protective goggles and gloves. Additionally, the risks were reflected in the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) to be posted and kept at workplaces.
MSDS refers to a type of chemical handling manual intended to convey information about chemical substances, including hazard and risk information, names and contents, and handling and storage methods.
According to the Industrial Safety and Health Act, the Ministry receives hazard and risk investigation reports from manufacturers or importers of new chemical substances, notifies measures to prevent worker health hazards, and announces the names and hazards and risks of chemical substances.
Park Young-man, Director of the Industrial Accident Prevention and Compensation Policy Bureau, stated, "This announcement is meaningful in informing the hazards and risks of new chemical substances," and added, "Employers must strictly comply with worker health hazard prevention measures so that workers can safely handle new chemical substances."
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