One Dead, Three Injured by Hazardous Substance at POSCO Pohang Steelworks

[Financial News] At POSCO's Pohang Steelworks, an accident occurred in which on-site workers were exposed to a gas suspected to be a hazardous substance, resulting in one death and three injuries.
According to police and other sources, around 9 a.m. on the 5th, several subcontracted workers from POSCO DX were conducting pre-repair work at the annealing and pickling plant in the stainless steel rolling division of Pohang Steelworks in Dongchon-dong, Nam-gu, Pohang. During the process, they inhaled a gas of unknown composition. Four workers experienced breathing difficulties and chest pain. After receiving emergency first aid, they were transported by private ambulance, but a 54-year-old worker, identified as A, died en route.
The remaining three workers, all in their 30s, suffered burns to parts of their bodies but are reported to be in stable condition.
POSCO reported the incident to the fire authorities at 11:14 a.m., about two hours after the chemical leak began, to request emergency response.
Thirty firefighters and eleven vehicles from the 119 Special Response Unit and the Pohang Nambu Rescue Team were dispatched. They confirmed a gas leak, presumed to be hydrofluoric acid, from a separated pipe in the plant and reconnected the pipe.
During this process, absorbent pads were used to remove all toxic substances. The fire authorities confirmed that no residual gas remained as of 12:48 p.m.
The fire authorities also stated that the chemical involved was presumed to be either hydrofluoric acid or nitric acid.
The police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) plan to investigate the working conditions at the time of the accident, including whether safety equipment was used, and to determine the exact cause. POSCO stated that MOEL has issued a work suspension order for the affected production line.
In March, an employee of POSCO PRTECH, a maintenance subsidiary, also died after collapsing during repair work at Pohang Steelworks.


jjw@fnnews.com Jung Ji-woo Reporter