Jang In-hwa "Immediate Switch to 5-Day Workweek for Executives... Leading by Example in Safety on Site"

Pohang Steelworks Consecutive Fires
"On-site Safety Is the Most Important"
'Equipment Robustness TFT' Launched

As fires repeatedly broke out at the Pohang Steelworks, Chairman Jang In-hwa of POSCO Group visited the fire sites to inspect the safety conditions. He urged group executives and managers to lead by example in implementing safety measures on site.

On the 26th, Chairman Jang, in an email titled 'CEO Message' sent to group executives and managers, expressed concern that "as the year-end approaches, work discipline may be loosening and concentration declining, which could have caused such accidents," adding, "We must also examine whether the focus on short-term achievements such as target production volume, operating profit, and maintenance cost reduction influenced this fire incident."

Jang In-hwa, Chairman of POSCO Group Yonhap News

He further stated, "Not only fire accidents but also numerous safety incidents leading to major disasters occurred in business units this year," and added, "You must take the lead in breaking this trend and play a proactive role in promptly returning to normal business operations."

Chairman Jang instructed the immediate launch of the 'Equipment Robustness TFT (Task Force Team),' composed of top-level safety, equipment, and maintenance experts both inside and outside the company. The Equipment Robustness TFT will conduct thorough on-site inspections of all domestic and overseas steelworks and establish and implement equipment robustness plans as strong follow-up measures.

He explained, "Through the TFT, we will inspect all steelworks sites, including Pohang and Gwangyang as well as overseas locations, to objectively assess equipment conditions, and establish and execute both short-term stabilization and mid- to long-term robustness plans. We will thoroughly investigate the causes of accidents and meticulously supplement the safety maintenance system to ensure no deficiencies."

Chairman Jang emphasized to executives, "You must recognize the current situation more seriously than anyone else and diligently perform your duties with a sense of urgency. Until the management environment, including the sites, stabilizes, executives at Holdings should immediately switch from a four-day workweek every two weeks to a five-day workweek and actively consider ways to overcome the crisis."

Chairman Jang recalled, "Even in the unprecedented situation in 2022 when most of the Pohang Steelworks was flooded due to the Naengcheon overflow, under the banner of 'safety over speed' and 'safer today than yesterday,' all group employees united with a desperate spirit to overcome the damage without any casualties," and urged, "Please lead by example to ensure safety in all operations, including production sites, and prevent even minor equipment accidents."