Securing Materials on Hazardous Substance Handling and Management
The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the police announced that they are conducting a search and seizure at a ready-mixed concrete plant in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, on the morning of August 27 in connection with the recent suffocation accident at the facility.
According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, as of this day, the Gwangju Regional Employment and Labor Office and the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency have deployed about 15 labor inspectors and police officers to carry out the search and seizure.
Previously, at around 1:00 p.m. on August 21, a worker in his 60s, referred to as Mr. A, collapsed after entering a storage tank containing cement admixture to clean its interior.
Two other workers in their 50s, who were present at the scene, entered the tank to rescue Mr. A but were exposed to toxic gases and died on the same day.
Mr. A was also transported to the hospital for treatment but died on the morning of August 24.
The Gwangju Regional Employment and Labor Office and the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency plan to secure materials related to the handling and storage of hazardous substances, as well as PCs and mobile phones of those involved, through the search and seizure.
The Gwangju Regional Employment and Labor Office will thoroughly investigate the cause of the poisoning accident and whether safety regulations were observed during work in confined spaces, such as inside the cement storage tank.
The Gwangju Regional Employment and Labor Office stated, "Based on the evidence obtained through this search and seizure, we will conduct a strict and swift investigation into potential violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act."
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