South Korean media reported that a safety incident involving a mooring line occurred at HD Hyundai Samho, where a line used to secure a ship to the dock suddenly snapped, resulting in the death of one worker.
On June 23, HD Hyundai Group announced that a serious workplace accident had occurred at its shipbuilding subsidiary, HD Hyundai Samho, where a shipyard worker tragically lost his life during mooring operations.
According to the announcement, the accident took place around 11:25 AM on June 22 at the HD Hyundai Samho’s dock. A worker (in his 40s) was performing mooring duties when he was struck by a thick cable that snapped and recoiled violently. Although he was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, he succumbed to his injuries at approximately 7:50 PM that evening.
South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) and Labor has stated it will investigate the incident to determine if there were violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. Local police have also launched an investigation to reconstruct the details of the accident, including whether safety protocols were properly followed during the operation and the cause of the cable failure.
Following the incident, HD Hyundai Samho immediately suspended all similar mooring operations and secured the accident site. HD Hyundai Group has issued a shipyard-wide safety alert and plans to conduct specialized safety and health training for all employees.
A representative from HD Hyundai Samho stated: “The company extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family, who are devastated by this sudden tragedy. We will fully cooperate with the relevant authorities to determine the exact cause of the accident and, based on the findings, will do our utmost to improve our safety management system and prevent such accidents from happening again.”