Why Samsung Electronics Banned Mobile Phones Throughout Its Workplaces (Comprehensive)

Response to Serious Accident Punishment Act... Mandatory '5 Major Safety Regulations' Including Ban on Smartphone Use While Walking or Driving

Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Semiconductor Plant / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyeyoung] Samsung Electronics is mandating the '5 Major Safety Regulations,' including a ban on using mobile phones while walking at major business sites. The same regulations will apply not only to employees but also to visitors, interpreted as an effort to raise safety awareness following the enforcement of the Serious Accident Punishment Act.

According to industry sources on the 2nd, Samsung Electronics recently announced the official implementation of the '5 Major Safety Regulations to Create Safe Workplaces.' These five safety regulations apply not only to Samsung employees but also to visitors to the business sites. If a visitor is found violating the safety regulations, access restrictions may be imposed for a certain period.

The five mandatory safety regulations enforced by Samsung Electronics are: ▲No use of mobile phones while walking ▲No jaywalking ▲No use of mobile phones while driving ▲No speeding while driving and compliance with in-house speed limits ▲Wearing helmets while riding bicycles.

The mandatory safety regulations are uniformly applied to Samsung Electronics' DX division sites in Suwon, Gumi, Gwangju, and others. Enhanced safety regulations have been proactively applied at semiconductor sites such as Hwaseong Giheung and Pyeongtaek.

Since 2016, Samsung Electronics has recommended refraining from using mobile phones while walking within its premises. This measure was taken in response to the social issue of using mobile phones while walking, known as 'Smombie' (a portmanteau of smartphone and zombie), which has emerged domestically and internationally. Especially because Samsung's major business sites cover large areas with significant internal movement, continuous campaigns have been conducted to prevent accidents that may occur accordingly.

The decision to mandate safety regulations, which were previously recommendations, was made considering the full enforcement of the Serious Accident Punishment Act from the end of last month, reflecting the need to further strengthen awareness and safety consciousness. The company is known to have emphasized in a recent notice to employees regarding the Serious Accident Punishment Act that "we must do our best to prevent safety accidents, and workplace safety is no longer optional but essential."

Samsung Electronics is also focusing on safety management responses for partner companies. Monthly meetings are held with partner company CEOs to share trends in environmental and safety regulations. Additionally, they conduct activities such as activating the work stoppage right system, hazard prediction training competitions, and risk assessment education. The work stoppage right allows workers to halt work when there is an imminent danger or a serious accident occurs.