Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon has dispatched the head of the Industrial Safety and Health Policy Office to the site of a fire at a manufacturing plant in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, where three workers died and one was seriously injured. He has ordered a prompt and thorough response to the incident.
According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the fire broke out at 11:44 a.m. at the Daewon Industrial plant, a manufacturer of fatty acids, for reasons that are still unknown. The incident resulted in the deaths of three workers and left one with serious injuries.
Upon receiving the report of the incident, Minister Kim ordered swift action to manage the situation and prevent further damage. In response, the ministry established a Central Industrial Accident Response Headquarters and a Regional Industrial Accident Response Headquarters at both the headquarters and the Cheonan branch.
The head of the Industrial Safety and Health Policy Office and the Director of the Daejeon Regional Employment and Labor Office were also sent to the scene. They will coordinate with relevant agencies to share information about the incident and assist in the response and investigation.
Immediately after the incident, the Cheonan branch director and labor inspectors arrived on-site to halt operations at the facility. They are working to mitigate the risk of further accidents while verifying compliance with safety measures and the working conditions at the time of the incident.
The ministry is committed to thoroughly investigating not only the direct cause of the accident but also any underlying structural issues that may have contributed. The Cheonan branch has formed a dedicated investigation team of 15 members to examine the circumstances of the accident and any potential violations of industrial safety and health laws.
Minister Kim expressed condolences to the families of the deceased workers, stating, "We will do everything possible for a swift and thorough response to the incident and to prevent secondary accidents."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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