Police and Labor Ministry Conduct Joint Inspection at SPC Samlip Plant Over Worker Death

Police Investigate 'Occupational Negligence Resulting in Death'
Focus on Cooling Conveyor Inspection
Seven, Including Plant Center Manager, Booked

On May 27, police investigating the death of a female worker in her 50s who was caught in a machine at the SPC Samlip Siwha plant conducted an on-site inspection with related agencies.

The Siheung Police Station in Gyeonggi Province announced that from 1:30 p.m. for about one hour and forty minutes, they carried out a joint inspection together with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the National Forensic Service, and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. The inspection team consisted of a total of 22 members.

The inspection team thoroughly checked the operation process of the cooling conveyor belt where the accident occurred and investigated the specific circumstances under which the victim's upper body became trapped in the machine. In particular, at the scene, they focused on verifying a statement that "when there was a creaking sound from the machine, workers would sometimes put their bodies inside to spray lubricant."

The police are also questioning factory personnel about the circumstances of lubricant use and the operating procedures of the machine. A police representative stated, "As the investigation is ongoing, it is difficult to disclose specific details at this time."

The police plan to collect the lubricant used by the deceased and request a component analysis from the National Forensic Service. Separately, the police have booked seven individuals, including the plant center manager, on charges of occupational negligence resulting in death and are investigating them.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has also booked SPC Samlip CEO Kim Beomsoo and the corporation itself on suspicion of violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. It has been reported that additional individuals may be booked depending on the progress of the investigation.

This accident occurred at around 3 a.m. on May 19. At the time, a female worker in her 50s died in a serious industrial accident after her upper body became trapped in the cooling conveyor belt while spraying lubricant inside the machine.