On the 6th, Song Chi-young, the newly appointed president of POSCO E&C, visited the construction site of the 'Gwangmyeong-Seoul Expressway Section 1' where a fatal accident occurred, to confirm the circumstances of the incident and to check the on-site safety management status to prevent reoccurrence. This was his first official schedule since taking office.
POSCO Group reported that multiple fatal accidents occurred this year, including four incidents at POSCO E&C and one at the Gwangyang Steelworks. In response, it announced a 'Safety Management Innovation Plan' on the 31st of last month. However, on the 4th, another incident occurred at the Gwangmyeong-Seoul Expressway construction site, where a worker sustained serious injuries and fell into a coma. Jeong Hee-min, president of POSCO E&C, expressed his intention to resign, and on the 5th, Song Chi-young, head of the POSCO Holdings Group Safety Special Diagnosis Task Force, was appointed as the new president.
President Song said on that day, 'With a heavy sense of responsibility and the resolve of life and death, we will fundamentally reform the safety management system company-wide to prevent disasters from occurring at their source and establish an effective safety culture centered on the site.' He also noted that POSCO E&C has decided to temporarily suspend new orders in the infrastructure business sector until safety is secured and public trust is restored.
President Song stated, 'Creating the safest workplace is our top priority, rather than immediate management performance.'
Under President Song's leadership, POSCO E&C plans to consolidate its safety capabilities to prevent disasters and foster a 'safety culture that is part of everyday life,' while continuing fundamental reforms to transform into a sustainable corporation.
Additionally, POSCO E&C is planning to establish a model case for Korea by gradually preparing institutional and on-site remedies through expert opinions regarding the chronic issue of the subcontracting structure that has been pointed out throughout the construction industry.
President Song is an expert with experience and insight into safety in the POSCO Group, having served as the deputy director of the safety and environmental department of POSCO's Pohang Steelworks, head of the safety and health center at POSCO E&C, CEO of POSCO M-Tech, and leader of the POSCO Equipment Reinforcement Task Force.