Another Fatal Entrapment Accident at Taean Power Plant Where Kim Yonggyun Died: Subcontracted Worker in His 50s Killed

"It Was Not Included in the Work Order... Circumstances Under Investigation"

West Power Chungnam Taean Power IGCC

An accident occurred at the Taean Power Headquarters of Korea Western Power, where a subcontracted worker in his 50s was killed after being caught in machinery. This fatal accident happened at the same location for the first time in about six years since the death of young temporary worker Kim Yonggyun.

According to Western Power and KEPCO KPS on June 2, at around 2:35 p.m. that day, Mr. A, who was working in the KPS machine workshop, died in a lathe entrapment accident.

KEPCO KPS is responsible for maintenance subcontracting at the Chungnam Taean Power Plant, which is operated by the state-run Western Power. Mr. A was an employee of a subcontractor for KEPCO KPS.

A representative from KEPCO KPS stated, "This was not included in today's work order, and we are currently investigating the exact circumstances of the accident." The representative also added, "However, since the police and the labor office are conducting investigations, it is difficult for our organization to clearly determine the cause of the accident at this time."

This is the first fatal accident at Taean Power Plant since the death of Kim Yonggyun, a subcontracted worker for Western Power, in 2018, about six years ago. At that time, Mr. Kim, who was in his third month of employment, died in December 2018 while checking a conveyor belt malfunction at Taean Power Units 9·10, when his body became caught in the machinery.

Following Mr. Kim's death, amendments to the Industrial Safety and Health Act, which strengthened the responsibility of primary contractors for subcontracted workers, and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, which increased penalties, were implemented in 2020 and 2022, respectively.

A representative from KEPCO KPS stated, "We will fully cooperate with the investigation agencies in determining the cause of the accident," and added, "We will take appropriate measures, such as implementing measures to prevent recurrence, in accordance with the results of the investigation."