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The union blamed the company’s lax safety management for a fatal fire aboard a Navy submarine undergoing overhaul at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard, which killed a subcontractor worker.
The Metalworkers’ Union branch at Hyundai Heavy Industries (the HHI branch) said in a statement on April 11 that the accident was a “man-made disaster” caused by leaving the submarine’s structural hazards unaddressed.
The union said the company failed to implement effective on-site safety measures despite the submarine’s confined layout, which makes evacuation difficult in a fire.
In particular, the HHI branch criticized the company for not enforcing a two-person work rule in the sealed compartment and for having no emergency response system in place.
The union also faulted the rescue effort. It said workers attempted to extinguish an early-stage fire involving lead-acid batteries with water without following procedures, which caused an electrical short and created the risk of a secondary accident.
The fire occurred around 1:58 p.m. on April 9 aboard the Navy’s 214-class submarine Hong Beom-do while it was undergoing overhaul at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard.
Of the 47 people inside at the time, 46 evacuated. A female subcontractor in her 60s, identified as Ms. A, became trapped and was found dead about 33 hours later.
Pointing out that most fatal industrial accidents over the past decade have involved subcontracted workers, the HHI branch plans to push for an end to outsourcing hazardous tasks.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries expressed deep condolences to the deceased and the bereaved family and issued an apology. The company said it will fully cooperate with investigations by relevant authorities to determine the exact cause.
Police are reviewing whether to press charges of death by professional negligence against the on-site safety manager. The Ministry of Employment and Labor is investigating whether the primary contractor and subcontractors violated the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.
Reporter Ahn Ok-heen
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