Ministry of Employment and Labor Refers Duseong Industry for Prosecution on Serious Accident Punishment Act Violation over 16 Acute Poisoning Cases

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] The Busan Regional Employment and Labor Office of the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 11th that it has sent the corporation and the representative of Duseong Industry, where 16 cases of occupational diseases occurred, to the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office with an opinion for indictment on charges of violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

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Since the Serious Accidents Punishment Act came into effect on January 27, this is the first time that a corporate management official has been sent to the prosecution with an opinion for indictment for violating this law.

The Busan Labor Office stated, "The management official of Duseong Industry failed to fulfill the obligation to establish a safety and health management system necessary to ensure the safety and health of workers as stipulated by the Serious Accidents Punishment Act."

The representative of Duseong Industry is also charged with violating the Occupational Safety and Health Act by failing to implement necessary health measures, such as not installing a local exhaust ventilation system while handling the hazardous substance trichloromethane.

At Duseong Industry, a manufacturer of air conditioner accessory materials, 16 cases of acute poisoning caused by trichloromethane, a component of a cleaning agent, occurred last February.

Considering the seriousness of the matter, the Busan Labor Office applied for an arrest warrant for the representative of Duseong Industry on the 14th of last month, but the court dismissed it on the grounds that the conditions for detention were not met.

After additional investigation, the Labor Office sent the representative of Duseong Industry to the prosecution without detention on this day.