A worker in his 40s employed at an Ottogi affiliated factory that produces canned seafood and Cup Noodle has died four days after being crushed by a robotized facility while receiving treatment.

According to the Goseong Police Station in Gyeongnam Province, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Ottogi, a subcontractor worker in his 40s, identified as A, was crushed by a robotized facility at Ottogi SF located in Goseong-eup, Goseong-gun, at around 11:59 a.m. on September 21.

Worker A was transferred to a hospital immediately after the accident and underwent surgery for a lumbar burst fracture.

Although he received treatment in the trauma intensive care unit, he passed away at around 10:30 p.m. on September 25.

Ottogi explained that Worker A died after developing complications such as sepsis and acute kidney injury during the course of treatment.

At the time of the accident, an issue occurred during a test of the robotized pallet loading process for export products, prompting workers to shut down the facility and complete troubleshooting measures.

Afterward, workers were instructed to exit the robotized workspace before the facility was restarted.

However, workers failed to notice that Worker A was still inside organizing products on a pallet, leading to his upper body being crushed by the equipment.

It was confirmed that the workplace where Worker A was stationed is subject to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

Police are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident and whether there was any negligence on the part of the company.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor issued a work suspension order for the accident site on the day Worker A passed away.

The ministry also plans to investigate site officials and others to determine whether violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act occurred.

The funeral procedures for Worker A concluded with the funeral procession on September 28 following consultations with the bereaved family.

Ottogi stated, "With the initial investigations by the police and the labor ministry concluded, we are doing our utmost to support the psychological stability of the bereaved family. We will also actively cooperate with future legal and administrative procedures and carefully look after respects for the deceased and the bereaved family, doing our utmost in every area the company can handle."

(Photo: Yonhap News)