Labor Ministry and Police Raid POSCO Headquarters Over 'Toxic Gas Incident'

Reviewing Work Documents and Previous Incident Records
"Examining Instructions Between Principal and Subcontractors"

Labor authorities and the police are conducting a search and seizure at POSCO headquarters and other locations in connection with a toxic gas poisoning accident that occurred during cleaning work at the POSCO site in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province last month.

The Daegu Regional Employment and Labor Office and the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency announced on December 15 that they had deployed approximately 40 labor inspectors and police officers to conduct a search and seizure at POSCO headquarters, the primary contractor for the cleaning service company where the accident occurred.

Provided by the Ministry of Employment and Labor

The Daegu Regional Employment and Labor Office and the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency stated that, through this search and seizure, they would secure documents related to the work, such as daily work logs, as well as records of previous accidents. They plan to examine whether appropriate safety measures were implemented to prevent risks associated with by-product gases (a complex gas generated as a by-product during electric furnace operations) during cleaning work.

The Daegu Regional Employment and Labor Office stated, "Based on the evidence obtained through this search and seizure, we will verify the details of work instructions between the primary and subcontractors, the working methods at the time of the accident, and the safety management system." The office added, "We will thoroughly investigate the root cause of the accident, and if violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act or the Serious Accidents Punishment Act are found, we will hold those responsible strictly accountable."

Previously, on November 20, an accident occurred at the No. 4 Stainless Steelmaking Plant at POSCO Pohang Steelworks, where two workers from a cleaning service company and one POSCO employee were poisoned by by-product gas while cleaning sludge (residue) around the pipes. The accident happened when two workers from the cleaning service company collapsed during the task, and a POSCO employee who found them was also poisoned.