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"We said we couldn't do the job..." Another accident at OCI Pohang plant after just 3 months

[비즈한국] It has been belatedly confirmed that another full-body burn accident occurred at the OCI456040 Pohang plant just three months after the last one. While safety concerns due to aging facilities have been consistently raised, allegations have now emerged that subcontractors were subjected to coercive instructions. OCI’s safety management capabilities are now under scrutiny.

According to BizHankook's coverage, on October 25th at approximately 4:00 PM, a worker surnamed A from the subcontractor Bokyung E&C suffered a burn accident while working on piping construction at the OCI Pohang plant located in Cheongrim-dong, Nam-gu, Pohang. Worker A is currently hospitalized at a burn treatment center in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region. It is understood that he suffered third-degree burns on approximately 29% of his body, including his neck, left arm, side, groin, and thighs.

Claims have emerged that despite Worker A stating at the time of the accident that he could not proceed with the work because high-temperature tar vapor was leaking from the pipes, an OCI maintenance team employee repeatedly demanded he continue. In this process, it is also alleged that there were insulting remarks and coercive instructions directed at another worker who is a relative of Worker A. Person B, an official who worked at the site together, confessed, "We needed to lower the pressure by venting the steam for about an hour, but there was an order to start work after only 30 minutes, claiming it was safe," adding, "We resisted for over 15 minutes saying we couldn't do it, but we had no choice."

Some in the industry point out that this accident may involve violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Article 52, Paragraph 1 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act stipulates that "a worker may suspend work and evacuate if there is an imminent danger of an industrial accident." Paragraphs 2 and 3 also specify the obligation for a supervisor who receives a report of this fact to take necessary measures. If the field workers' claims are true, the prime contractor, OCI, did not acknowledge the request for work suspension despite it being made based on the judgment of the field workers.

An OCI official stated, "We judged the situation as dangerous, so we had already vented all the steam and installed safety devices before starting, but the accident occurred, and we are currently investigating the cause."

The post-accident handling process is also expected to become controversial. According to field workers, immediately after the accident occurred, OCI reportedly first expressed its intention to transport Worker A to the hospital in a private vehicle rather than an 119 ambulance. When Worker A refused, they allegedly recommended arranging a private ambulance. It is understood that after a heated argument, it took about 30 minutes until an 119 ambulance was dispatched to provide emergency treatment and transport him to Pohang St. Mary's Hospital. The distance from the Pohang Nambu Fire Station, where the 119 ambulance was dispatched, to the OCI Pohang plant is 1.3km, which usually takes about 3 to 5 minutes by car.

The OCI Pohang plant, which manufactures organic and inorganic chemicals, is seeing an endless string of accidents, raising doubts about the company's commitment to safety and health management. In late July, an employee on a night patrol suffered full-body burns due to a high-temperature tar vapor leak from old piping facilities, and a month later, a fire broke out during repair work on a raw material storage tank. Voices at the site are criticizing OCI's attitude of not improving aging facilities. Person C, a chemical industry insider familiar with the site, pointed out, "There is almost no effort to improve aging facilities, and at best, they are only replaced with cheap parts, so the risk of accidents cannot be reduced."

BizHankook inquired with OCI regarding the request for work suspension, the post-accident handling process, and facility improvement efforts, but did not receive a response.