One of the biggest businesses in South Korea, Samsung Electronics, is being fined after a safety lapse at its semiconductor plant exposed employees to dangerous radiation levels. Two employees of the Giheung facility were working on normal maintenance of silicon wafer analysis equipment in May 2023. This facility is located about 40 kilometres south of Seoul. There they were exposed to radiation levels. These Levels were significantly higher than the annual safety limit.
Safety Device Failure
Image Source: koreabizwire.com
Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) investigations in South Korea found that the exposure was brought on by a malfunctioning safety system that was intended to automatically turn off radiation when equipment doors were opened. The malfunction was ascribed to the incompetence of Samsung’s radiation safety staff, who neglected to verify that the apparatus was operating as intended. Due to this error, both employees had to be hospitalised for radiation exposure, specifically to their fingers, which manifested strange symptoms.
Regulation-Implied Penalties
After conducting a comprehensive investigation, the NSSC fined Samsung up to 10.5 million won (about US$7,900 or RM32,716) for the safety infractions. Two further regulatory violations came to light throughout the examination. They might also result in additional sanctions. Even while the fee is a small monetary penalty for a company the size of Samsung, it emphasizes how crucial it is to follow nuclear safety regulations.
Samsung's Reaction and Steps
Samsung responded to the event. It pledged complete cooperation with the investigation as well as well, extending support. This support includes medical care and rehabilitation aid, to the impacted personnel. In order to avert mishaps in the future, the corporation has also promised to enhance safety protocols. Samsung stressed in a public statement how committed it is to protecting worker safety. So, It will be averting such mishaps in the future.
Additional Safety Risks
The incident involving radiation exposure is just one more of a string of safety problems that have been affecting Samsung’s manufacturing facilities lately. These include toxic chemical mismanagement at its Vietnam plant and a lawsuit brought by a Texas employee, which raises questions about the organisation’s workplace safety procedures.
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