Labor Group Accuses HDC Hyundai Development and Ajin Construction Regarding Drowning of Ulsan Worker in His 40s

【Financial News Ulsan=Choi Su-sang】 On the 15th, labor groups and the bereaved families accused HDC Hyundai Development and Ajin Construction, as well as five related parties, to the Ministry of Employment and Labor regarding the drowning accident of a man in his 40s, Mr. A, who was in charge of diving assistance at a breakwater reinforcement construction site in Ulsan.
'Ulsan Movement Headquarters for Creating a World Without Serious Accidents' (hereinafter referred to as the labor group) held a press conference at the Ulsan City Hall Press Center on the 29th, demanding the immediate arrest and punishment of the management responsible at HDC Hyundai Development, and the cessation of obstruction of accident cause investigation and an apology from Ajin Construction.
The labor group stated that there was no safety manager or work supervisor from the main contractor at the accident site at the time, and that the necessary equipment for diving work was not confirmed during the Ministry of Employment and Labor's on-site investigation.
In particular, they explained that although HDC Hyundai Development's hazard risk assessment suggested measures such as deploying skilled workers for rope fixing, these were not followed on site. 
In December 2022, Mr. A, who joined Ajin Construction as a safety monitor and work assistant for divers, died on the 15th while entering the sea to dismantle the mooring rope of a marine crane at the second-phase reinforcement construction site of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' Jeonsa Breakwater in Dong-gu, Ulsan. The autopsy confirmed drowning. 
Mr. A was supposed to work with a diver but was deployed alone to the worksite as the diver did not show up that day. 
The labor group claimed, "There was no safety management system at the accident site, and there was no safety manager, work director, or monitor from the main contractor at the disaster site," and "The main and subcontractors completely violated the obligation to establish a safety and health management system under the Serious Accident Punishment Act."
They particularly pointed out that the method of entering the sea to dismantle the mooring rope of the marine crane corresponds to poor work prohibited by the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
The bereaved families who attended the press conference stated that 15 days have passed since the accident, but the main contractor has thoroughly ignored the bereaved families, not even sending a condolence wreath to the deceased's mortuary, and Ajin Construction has not provided an accurate answer regarding the cause of the accident.  
A labor group official stated, "HDC Hyundai Development is a notorious company where 17 workers and citizens have died over the past five years due to repeated serious accidents, including the collapse of the I-Park construction site in Hwajeong-dong, Gwangju in 2022, and the building collapse at the demolition site in Hakdong 4 district in 2021," emphasizing that "arrest and punishment of the management responsible is essential to prevent repeated serious accidents by HDC Hyundai Development."
Meanwhile, the breakwater reinforcement construction where this accident occurred was ordered by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries with an order amount of 25.8 billion won, and the construction amount for Ajin Construction, a subcontractor of HDC Hyundai Development, is reported to be 17.5 billion won.

ulsan@fnnews.com Choi Su-sang