Alphabiz - POSCO Union Urges End to “Formality-Driven” Safety Management Amid Consecutive Industrial Accidents

Photo courtesy of Yonhap News

[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] POSCO’s labor union has called on the company to halt what it describes as “formality-driven, administrative safety management” following a series of serious industrial accidents at POSCO worksites.


In a statement released on the 24th, the union expressed “deep responsibility and heavy regret” over the recent incidents, stressing that “safety is an absolute value that cannot be compromised under any circumstances.”


The union criticized POSCO for “ignoring on-site warnings and signs of danger” and for failing to address structural issues that have repeatedly led to worker injuries and fatalities. It emphasized that real reform must begin with “listening to the voices of frontline workers.”


On November 20, three workers—including two subcontracted workers and one POSCO employee—fell unconscious after inhaling toxic gas during sludge-cleaning operations at the STS 4 steelmaking plant in the Pohang Works. All three were transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest.


The accident occurred just 15 days after another toxic gas exposure incident at the same plant on November 5, in which one subcontractor died and three others were injured.


The union argued that POSCO’s repeated countermeasures have been “disconnected from on-site realities,” adding that “administrative safety measures focused on reporting, documentation, and excessive monitoring only increase risk, as workers lack both time and manpower to conduct proper safety inspections.”


According to the union, unnecessary paperwork and redundant reporting obligations are hindering effective on-site safety activities and ultimately exacerbating workplace hazards.

Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)