The Ministry of Employment and Labor and police announced they are conducting a search and seizure at a ready-mixed concrete manufacturer in Suncheon, where three workers died from harmful gas poisoning in a storage tank on the 27th.
About 15 labor inspectors from the Gwangju Regional Employment and Labor Administration and the Jeollanam-do police were deployed.
Earlier, on 21st, an incident occurred where a worker collapsed inside a storage tank for an additive (a chemical agent added to enhance concrete performance) at a ready-mixed concrete manufacturer located in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do. Two fellow workers who attempted to rescue him entered the tank and were poisoned by harmful gas, leading to the deaths of all three workers. It is reported that the air quality inside the tank was in a condition where it was difficult to breathe normally.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor and police plan to thoroughly examine the management and storage-related documents of harmful substances, computers, and the mobile phones of those involved, as well as ensure compliance with health regulations during work in confined spaces such as the inside of the tank where cement was stored.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor said it is determined to conduct a strict and swift investigation into violations of industrial safety and health laws and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act based on the evidence gathered through this search and seizure.