Hanwha Aerospace said on the 4th that it halted operation of its production lines except for some essential processes. The move is to conduct special safety inspections and safety training for employees. The measure will continue through the 5th.
According to Hanwha Aerospace, the suspended production lines are at its business sites in Daejeon, Boeun in North Chungcheong, and Yeosu in South Jeolla that produce propellants and charges, as well as at the Changwon Nos. 1, 2, and 3 business sites in South Gyeongsang that make K9 self-propelled howitzers and armored vehicles. Including research and development (R&D) campuses in Daejeon and Pangyo, Hanwha Aerospace decided to halt work at a total of nine business sites for two days starting today to carry out safety inspections and safety training.
It is the first time Hanwha Aerospace has simultaneously halted production lines since the integrated corporation was launched in 2023. Hanwha Aerospace said the stoppage is to fundamentally prevent risks like the Daejeon business site accident and added that it chose the measure based on the judgment that securing a safe business site environment takes precedence over production disruptions.
Hanwha Aerospace plans to check for risk factors of fire, explosion, and serious industrial accidents, unsafe conditions and facilities, risk assessments, and accident cases at the business sites where operations were halted. The inspection also includes rechecks of machinery and equipment and the work environment. Hanwha Aerospace said the implementation status of improvement measures from risk assessment results over the past three years and of recurrence prevention measures are also subject to inspection.
In particular, at the Daejeon, Boeun, and Yeosu business sites that handle explosives, the company plans to check personal protective equipment by room, temperature and humidity conditions, and the status of jig and tool management. In addition, to prevent recurrence, it decided to automate processes related to propellant production and has begun reviews.
In addition, Hanwha Group plans to begin detailed environmental and safety inspections of its petrochemical affiliates. Hanwha Solutions, Hanwha TotalEnergies, and Hanwha Impact are among those subject to the inspections. Each company plans to form its own inspection team by the 10th and begin inspections.