Police and Labor Ministry Seek Pre-Arrest Warrants for Four in 'SPC Samlip Sihwa Factory Fatal Accident'

Regarding last year's entrapment accident involving a worker at the SPC Samlip Sihwa Factory, the police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor have initiated procedures to detain those responsible, including the factory manager.

SPC Samlip Sihwa Factory in Siheung, Gyeonggi. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

On January 9, the Siheung Police Station in Gyeonggi Province applied for pre-arrest warrants for four factory officials, including Center Director (Factory Manager) Mr. A, on charges of occupational negligence resulting in death. The Seongnam Branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor also applied for an arrest warrant for Mr. A on charges of violating the Industrial Safety and Health Act.

Mr. A and others are accused of neglecting their safety management duties in connection with an accident that occurred around 3 a.m. on May 19 of last year, when a female worker in her 50s died after being trapped while applying lubricant inside a machine known as a spiral cooling conveyor on the cream bread production line at the SPC Samlip Sihwa Factory in Siheung.

The police investigated a total of seven factory officials, including Mr. A, and applied for arrest warrants for four of them, including Mr. A, whose charges were deemed more serious.

Previously, a series of similar accidents occurred: in October 2022, a worker in his 20s died after being trapped in a machine at the SPL bakery factory in Pyeongtaek, and in August 2023, a worker in his 50s also died after being trapped in a machine at the Shani bakery factory in Seongnam.