Seoul probes safety conditions at HD Hyundai following subcontractor deaths
South Korea has initiated a comprehensive safety investigation into HD Hyundai Heavy Industries following two tragic accidents at its shipyards within a short span of six days.
Ministry of Employment and Labor Deploys Inspection Team
The Ministry of Employment and Labor has dispatched a 62-member inspection team for what it terms as a high-intensity investigation, comparable to a special inspection. The probe encompasses HD Hyundai Heavy’s expansive Ulsan yard, its Gunsan facility, company headquarters, and another plant classified as an ultra-high-risk workplace for 2026 by the government.
Focus on Safety Measures and Past Incidents
The crackdown comes in the wake of two fatal crushing accidents involving subcontracted workers in July. The first incident occurred on July 18, where a subcontractor in his 20s from Uzbekistan lost his life while working inside the cargo hold of an LNG carrier under construction at Ulsan. Tragically, he became trapped between a gondola and scaffolding above. Just six days later, another subcontractor in his 30s perished at the Gunsan yard after getting trapped between a structure and equipment during assembly work.
The labor ministry highlighted previous fatal accidents at HD Hyundai Heavy, signaling the need for a significant intervention. Inspectors will not only assess entrapment risks but also scrutinize procedures related to collisions, falls, fire and explosions, and confined-space accidents. They will also investigate the implementation of safety improvements mandated after previous incidents, as well as the efficacy of safety management and risk assessment at the company’s headquarters.
Any violations uncovered during the investigation will face immediate legal action, with further inspections planned to ensure the maintenance of required safety improvements. South Korean labor minister Kim Young-hoon emphasized that repeated serious accidents of the same nature indicate a lapse in a company’s safety management system, advocating a “zero-tolerance” stance towards firms with recurring fatal accidents.
This intervention casts a spotlight on the working practices within South Korea’s shipbuilding industry, particularly impacting the country’s leading yards coping with substantial newbuilding backlogs.
