▲ An aerial view of the SK Hynix Cheongju Campus
The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that a targeted inspection of 27 semiconductor manufacturing facilities revealed a total of 338 violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
The ministry plans to refer 28 cases for criminal prosecution and impose fines for 120 cases.
Corrective measures will be ordered for 188 cases.
Additionally, there was 1 case of cancellation of subcontract approval and 1 work suspension order.
The semiconductor manufacturing sector handles large amounts of hazardous and toxic chemicals and high-pressure gases, making it a high-risk industry prone to large-scale casualties from major industrial accidents such as fires, explosions, and leaks.
At the SK Hynix Cheongju Campus, where consecutive hydrogen fluoride leaks occurred in June, a total of 119 violations (35.2%) of the occupational safety act were uncovered.
The ministry plans to take legal action after identifying 28 violations of safety and health rules.
At the SK Hynix Cheongju Campus, block valves were installed upstream and downstream of safety valves, posing an explosion risk due to potential failure of the safety valves in an emergency.
In addition, electrical machinery and equipment lacking explosion-proof performance were used in explosion-hazard areas, showing inadequate management of fires and explosions.
Fines totaling 32 million won will be levied for 84 violations, including failure to attach warning labels and failure to post Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
The fire and explosion accidents in June were found to have resulted from the improper implementation of the process safety report, which is also subject to fines.
Furthermore, the ministry plans to issue corrective orders for 7 items requiring supplementation in the process safety report at the site.
At the SK Hynix Icheon Campus, 48 violations were identified.
Among them, fines amounting to 27.7 million won will be imposed for 8 cases.
The ministry also caught the SK Hynix Icheon Campus failing to follow work procedures for subcontract-approved work and accordingly revoked its subcontract approval.
Corrective orders were issued for the remaining 39 cases.
In addition, fines or corrective measures were taken for 171 legal violations across 25 other semiconductor workplaces.
Given that numerous violations were found at major semiconductor companies including SK Hynix, the labor ministry stated its firm stance on thoroughly pursuing administrative and judicial actions.
Ryu Hyun-chul, head of the Occupational Safety and Health Bureau at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, stated, "The recent accident at the SK Hynix Cheongju Campus was a warning light," adding, "Since semiconductor plants handle hazardous and high-pressure gases, even minor negligence in management can lead to a major disaster."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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