Eight Seoul Metro Employees Diagnosed with Blood Cancer... Investigation into Work-Related Causes Underway

First Meeting Held on the 16th After Forming the Blood Cancer Investigation Committee (5 External, 3 Internal Members)
Discussion on Blood Cancer Incidence Status and Selection of Investigation Scope and Methods
Regular Biweekly Meetings Planned... Detailed Investigation Followed by Development and Recommendation of Improvement Measures

Seoul Metro announced that it has formed a “Blood Cancer Investigation Committee” consisting of five external experts and three internal members in relation to an employee’s blood cancer diagnosis, and held its first meeting on the 16th to commence full-scale activities.

So far, eight employees have been diagnosed with blood cancer, of whom four have been recognized as industrial accident cases. Currently, one additional employee is in the process of applying for industrial accident recognition. (Three employees from the vehicle division, two from the mechanical division)

The company established the “Blood Cancer Investigation Committee” to analyze the exact causal relationship between blood cancer occurrence and tasks such as painting work within the vehicle depot, heavy maintenance work, and inspection of drainage pump rooms in subway stations, and to develop improvement measures.

The external experts on the Blood Cancer Investigation Committee include three occupational and environmental medicine specialists, one professor of industrial health, and one labor law attorney.

At the committee meeting held at the company headquarters on the 16th, extensive discussions were held regarding the current status of blood cancer cases within the company, the scope of the investigation, and the selection of investigation methods.

It was also decided to analyze the causal relationships between other occupational diseases and the work environment to improve working conditions, and to continue regular discussions.

The committee’s activity period is from July this year to April next year. Before conducting a detailed investigation, the scope, methods, and direction of the investigation will be finalized. Based on the detailed investigation results expected around March next year, the committee will analyze workplace risk factors and causal relationships and propose improvement measures to the company accordingly.

Park Byung-seop, Head of Safety Management at Seoul Metro, said, “Through the committee’s full-scale investigation activities, we will promptly identify the causal relationship between the work environment and blood cancer occurrence and create a safe working environment. Based on the committee’s advice and recommendations from the investigation results, we will actively prepare measures to eliminate harmful factors, improve the work environment, and provide health checkups and support for exposed and affected employees.”