SK hynix to beef up workplace safety

Published : Jul 8, 2015 - 18:13 Updated : Jul 8, 2015 - 18:45

South Korea’s leading chip maker SK hynix vowed to make all-out efforts to improve safety measures at its workplaces Wednesday, after a series of gas leak incidents that took workers’ lives.

In line with the initiative, the world’s second largest DRAM maker after Samsung Electronics said it would increase spending for safety by 10 percent each year.

SK hynix's chip plant in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province (Yonhap)

The company will invest 123 billion won ($108 million) to ensure safety at its plants in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province and Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province this year and plans to spend 407 billion won in total by the year 2017.

The chip manufacturer will also double the number of environmental, health and safety personnel to 80 by 2016.

An official from the chip maker said that “the company will continue to boost safety at facilities and set up master plans to deploy skilled safety managers.”

In April three contracted workers of SK hynix died in a gas leak at a construction site of the firm’s new chip production line in Icheon.

Since two other gas leak incidents took place at the Icheon plant in July last year and March, injuring two and 13, respectively, the company has been bombarded with criticism for insufficient safety measures.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)