A month later, Hanwha Ocean experienced another major accident.
At around 10:40 am on October 17, at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje Shipyard, workers were installing scaffolding structural parts using a crane when steel suddenly fell and hit an outsourced worker named A (in his 60s) who was working nearby.
The incident resulted in Mr. A sustaining serious injuries. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment but unfortunately died at approximately 11:40 a.m., about one hour after the accident occurred.
On the day of the incident, Hanwha Ocean issued an urgent apology statement: “We deeply regret this incident and extend our sincere apologies. We mourn the loss of our colleague in this tragedy that should never have occurred. We also offer our deepest condolences and apologies to the bereaved families who have suffered the loss of their loved ones and are enduring unimaginable grief.”
Hanwha Ocean emphasized in its statement: “We deeply recognize our significant responsibility for this tragic incident and will spare no effort in handling the aftermath, investigating the cause, and providing necessary support to the families of the victims. The company will fully cooperate with the relevant authorities in their investigation to thoroughly determine the cause of the accident. We will develop plans to strengthen our safety management system, conduct a comprehensive review of our safety protocols, and take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.”
Hanwha Ocean immediately suspended operations after the incident and is currently fully advancing the investigation into the cause of the accident. Local police have intervened in the investigation, and South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor has dispatched labor inspectors to the scene to investigate whether there have been violations of relevant laws and regulations such as the Serious Disasters Punishment Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
It is understood that this is the second major safety incident involving Hanwha Ocean in recent times. At approximately 11:56 a.m. on September 3, Rodrigo Reis Barreto (39), an employee of Petrobras, fell overboard and died while working at the shipyard.
Following the fatal fall incident, Kim Hee-cheul, CEO and Representative Director of Hanwha Ocean, issued an apology and pledged to implement measures to prevent recurrence. However, based on the current situation, significant safety hazards persist in Hanwha Ocean’s on-site safety protocols.