Explosion at SK Geocentric Polymer Plant in Ulsan… 7 people seriously injured

It was confirmed that seven workers were seriously injured in an explosion at a chemical plant in Ulsan, including full body burns.

According to the fire department, an explosion occurred during maintenance and repair work at the SK Geocentric Polymer (synthetic resin) plant in Sanggae-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan, at 3:35 pm on the 31st. Seven workers were seriously injured in the accident and taken to hospital. It is reported that all of the injured suffered serious damage, including burns to more than 80% of their body. Four of the injured were employees of SK Geocentric, and the rest were employees of subcontractors.

Immediately after the accident, the fire department mobilized 29 fire engines and 70 personnel to take over the scene. The fire department believes that the explosion occurred as cyclohexane leaked during a valve inspection of the polyethylene production process.

Police and fire departments plan to investigate the exact cause of the accident as soon as the scene of the accident is settled.

Meanwhile, at the factory where the accident occurred, a fire broke out while cleaning the toluene storage tank on April 20, and two workers were seriously injured and died during treatment.

◇ Minister Lee Jung-sik “Similar accident at one workplace… Review of the Act on Punishment of Serious Accidents”
In relation to the explosion, the Ministry of Employment and Labor took immediate action.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor immediately dispatched labor inspectors to the site immediately after the accident, ordered them to stop work, took measures to prevent further secondary damage, and then initiated an on-site investigation.

In particular, as the accident occurred during maintenance and repair work at the process safety management (PSM) workplace, the Ministry of Employment and Labor issued an official letter urgently to prevent a similar accident from reoccurring at other workplaces, and urged the workplace to conduct thorough safety management. did.

On the 1st, Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jeong-sik also expressed serious concerns about the accident and ordered a review of the application of the Serious Accident Punishment Act.

On the same day, Minister Lee said, “I express serious concern about the recurrence of a similar accident in succession at a business site.” In addition, he urged, “Please do your best to support the recovery of the injured who are being treated.”

◇Ministry of Employment and Safety and Health Agency, Ulsan area chemical plant intensive inspection of compliance with safety regulations
With this accident as an opportunity, the Ulsan Branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ulsan Regional Headquarters of the Occupational Safety and Health Agency will conduct intensive inspections for the prevention of serious accidents such as fires and explosions for two months from September for chemical plants in the jurisdiction.

During this inspection, they plan to focus on compliance with safety rules to prevent fires, explosions, and chemical leakage accidents during maintenance and repair of chemical plants. In particular, it plans to focus on checking matters related to non-routine work procedures, which are considered the main cause of death this year.

“The chemical industry is a large-scale equipment industry and uses hazardous machinery and chemical substances, and there is a high risk of a major accident due to frequent repairs and repairs of facilities and machinery,” said Kim Jun-hui, head of the Ulsan Branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

He continued, “Especially during non-daily work such as repair and maintenance of facilities and machines, sharing of risk information and communication between subcontractors and subcontractors are important, so that the management person takes the center and the company’s safety and health management system can work properly in the field. We ask for your continued interest and effort.”