At approximately 3:09 p.m. on December 22, a fatal fall accident occurred at Samsung Heavy Industries’ Geoje Shipyard: An outsourced worker, identified only as Mr. A (in his 50s), fell from a height of 21 meters while performing preparatory work for coating operations on a crude oil tanker.
A was immediately taken to the hospital, but unfortunately died. It was confirmed that A was an employee of a Samsung Heavy Industries partner company and was wearing a safety helmet and other protective equipment at the time of the incident.
An official from the Tongyeong Branch of South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) stated: “Preliminary findings indicate that at the time of the accident, Mr. A was working in a two-person team with a colleague to prepare for coating operations when the incident occurred while they were moving hoses.”
On the 23rd, Samsung Heavy Industries Vice Chairman Choi Sung-an issued an apology regarding the worker’s fatal fall accident that occurred the previous day.
In his apology statement, Choi Sung-an stated: “I once again apologize to all concerned for failing to fulfill our responsibility for safety management and causing great concern. We immediately issued a full work stoppage order on the vessel involved in the accident, and this morning we ordered a work stoppage across the entire yard. We plan to conduct special safety training.”
Additionally, Choi Sung-an pledged in an apology statement to “spare no effort in creating a zero-accident safety environment.”
Currently, relevant parties are conducting an in-depth investigation into the specific cause of the accident and whether Samsung Heavy Industries violated the Act on the Punishment of Major Disasters.
It is understood that this marks the third major safety incident at Samsung Heavy Industries this year.