In connection with the death of Kim Chong-hyun, a non-regular worker at the Taean Thermal Power Plant, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 5th that it would conduct strong supervision equivalent to special supervision at the Taean power plant.
The ministry noted that following Kim's death, it would promptly commence supervision of the overall safety and health management at the Taean power plant and that if any violations of the law are confirmed, it would take strict action, including criminal measures and fines, by conducting supervision equivalent to special supervision.
Special supervision can be initiated when specific conditions are met, such as when two or more deaths occur simultaneously at a business site. Although this case does not fall under that category, the ministry official explained that supervision would be conducted at that level.
The ministry also commanded KEPCO KPS, the primary contractor, to carry out safety and health inspections and ordered it to establish and implement an improvement plan based on the results. Together with joint inspections by police and related departments, an investigation will be conducted into whether there were work directives issued to Kim and whether protective devices were installed. Psychological recovery and trauma treatment will be supported for workers who witnessed the incident in conjunction with worker health centers.
Earlier, the ministry immediately ordered a halt to all work at the site of the incident after a major accident occurred at the power plant on the 2nd and commenced an investigation into the cause of the accident. It recommended the halt of work for other companies that the witnesses belonged to, advising them not to resume work during the psychological recovery period.
Kim, an employee of Korea Power O&M, a subcontractor of KEPCO KPS, died while working around 2:30 p.m. on the 2nd in the machine shop of the KEPCO KPS Taean Thermal Power Plant. The police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor have confirmed that the high-speed rotating cover of the machine at the accident site was operating with the cover open and are investigating the operational status and procedural issues that day.