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Leg-trapping accident occurs involving a contract worker at POSCO Pohang Steelworks

[비즈한국] A serious accident occurred at POSCO's Pohang Steelworks where a skilled worker, rehired after mandatory retirement, suffered severe injuries resulting in the amputation of both legs after being trapped while working. Since Chairman Jang In-hwa took office, POSCO has prioritized safety management as its core value and even launched a subsidiary specializing in safety management; however, critics point out that on-site hazards continue to threaten the lives of workers.

According to Bizhankook's coverage, a leg-trapping accident occurred around 1:44 PM on the 20th at Gate 8 of the finishing line in the No. 1 Hot Rolling Mill at POSCO Pohang Steelworks, located in Pohang, Gyeongbuk. As a product transport cart (C-cart) was moving, the legs of a worker identified as Mr. A were caught between the cart and a fixed structure, causing severe damage. Mr. A had worked at POSCO for decades and was currently employed as a contract worker through a re-employment program following his retirement.

Immediately after the accident, the POSCO 119 Steelmaking District Squad, the steelworks' internal fire brigade, was dispatched to provide first aid and transport the victim to a hospital. The accident was not reported to the local firefighting authorities, the Pohang Nambu Fire Station. Since a 'serious disaster' (under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act) requires at least one fatality or two or more injured persons requiring at least six months of treatment from the same accident, this incident does not appear to qualify for classification as a serious disaster. Work on the production line was temporarily suspended following the accident, and the POSCO safety management team is understood to have begun an investigation into the cause and measures to prevent recurrence.

The POSCO Group suffered three fatal accidents at the Pohang Steelworks alone last year and has been facing difficulties due to consecutive casualties at construction sites of POSCO E&C. President Lee Jae-myung (Note: referring to the political figure) ordered a thorough investigation into the casualties at POSCO E&C, a POSCO Group affiliate, in August of last year. In response, the POSCO Group launched the 'Group Safety Special Diagnosis TF' directly under Chairman Jang In-hwa in August last year and established POSCO Safety Solutions, a subsidiary specializing in safety management, in September. Although they have since put forward sweeping reform plans, questions are being raised about their effectiveness following this accident.

The current Serious Accidents Punishment Act (Serious Accidents Act) imposes a duty to ensure safety and health within the workplace on those who represent the business and have overall authority and responsibility, or on business owners or management officials in charge of safety and health. In the event of a fatality, the business owner or person in charge can be subject to imprisonment for at least one year or a fine of up to 1 billion won.

An official from the Pohang Employment and Labor Office of the Ministry of Employment and Labor stated, "As this incident does not qualify as a serious disaster, it is being reviewed by the Industrial Accident Prevention Supervision Division, not the Serious Accident Investigation Division," adding, "We are monitoring the status of the treatment." Furthermore, a POSCO official said, "It is understood that the injured employee is not in life-threatening condition," and added, "He has been transported to a hospital and is currently undergoing treatment."