Caught-in Accidents Continue at Food Plants, Raising Safety Management Concerns

As workers are repeatedly getting caught in machinery at major food production facilities, concerns are mounting over whether the on-site safety management system is functioning properly. Recently, accidents occurred at SPC Group affiliates Shany and Ourhome factories, where workers had their arms and necks caught in machinery. Notably, both these sites have experienced similar industrial accidents in the past, necessitating a re-evaluation of companies' overall safety management standards.

On the 10th, a foreign worker from Vietnam suffered severe injuries after their arm was caught in an automatic panning machine at the Shany factory in Dalseong-gun, Daegu, and was transported to the hospital. On the 8th, a subcontracted worker's neck was caught in a conveyor belt at the Ourhome Yongin 2 Plant in Gyeonggi Province, and they were taken to the hospital. The Ourhome Yongin 2 Plant, where the accident occurred, had a fatal incident last year when a worker's neck was caught in a cooling facility, resulting in death. At the time of that accident, the possibility was raised that the worker's hood, worn during operation, may have been caught in the equipment.

Police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor are currently investigating the exact circumstances of the accidents and potential violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. They are examining the overall safety management practices, including whether safety devices were installed at the sites and the status of safety training provided.