Labor authorities are conducting a planned inspection after discovering circumstantial evidence that workers at a lead-acid battery manufacturing factory in the Jeonnam-Gwangju area took medication to promote the excretion of lead from their bodies.

The Gwangju Regional Employment and Labor Administration has been carrying out the planned inspection targeting a lead-acid battery manufacturing factory in Gwangsan-gu since last month.

This comes after the administration discovered suspected medication use during inspections of two regional lead-acid battery manufacturing facilities, which began on September 7 under guidelines from the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

It was reported that during interviews with workers, some stated that they appeared to have taken medication promoting the excretion of lead components from their bodies.

The Gwangju Labor Office is looking into whether oral medications were actually taken at the workplace, and if so, whether there was an intention to lower blood lead levels during special health examinations.

To this end, it has issued temporary health examination orders to all 139 factory workers and inspected the workplace environment through the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency.

Based on the health examination results, if heavy metals such as lead exceeding standard limits are detected in the body, the administration plans to issue orders for facility improvements and health diagnoses.

It also plans to conduct face-to-face interviews with workers to ascertain the specific facts.

If it is confirmed that management had workers take medication for the purpose of distorting special health examination results, the office plans to request an investigation on charges such as obstruction of official duties by fraudulent means.

An official from the Gwangju Labor Office stated, "While current Occupational Safety and Health Acts do not have provisions to directly punish the act of taking medications that promote lead excretion itself," adding, "We will thoroughly investigate and take strict measures if any illegalities are confirmed."


(Photo provided by Gwangju Regional Employment and Labor Administration, Yonhap News)