POSCO has recorded no industrial accident deaths at its worksites so far this year, a result industry officials attribute to a sweeping overhaul of its safety management system after a series of fatal accidents drew public criticism last year.
The steelmaker's industrial accident death toll at its plants stands at zero this year, according to industry data on the 21st. Two workers died last year — one in a fall during pipe removal work at the Gwangyang Works in July and another after inhaling hazardous substances at the Pohang Works in November.
The deaths brought intense criticism. President Lee Jae-myung called for a thorough investigation into the causes and strict accountability. POSCO President Lee Hee-keun issued an apology taking responsibility and pledging to prevent further accidents, and Pohang Works chief Lee Dong-ryul was removed from his post.
POSCO elevated stronger safety management to its top priority at the group level. A special safety diagnosis task force reporting directly to POSCO Group Chairman Chang In-hwa — the group is held by POSCO Holdings (005490.KS) — established a "spend first, report later" system that allows budget to be used immediately when safety measures are needed.
The company also committed to allocating a set minimum share of revenue to its safety budget, began developing safety technology using artificial intelligence and introduced a system that lets workers report on-site hazards immediately.
POSCO carried out emergency site inspections, upgraded facilities and expanded safety training. To strengthen its safety management structure, it elevated the existing safety and health planning office to a safety and health planning division reporting directly to the chief executive. The aim was to block accidents at the source by having the CEO oversee on-site safety directly.
Changes followed on the shop floor. Workers at the Pohang Works held an exhibition of tools and safety devices they had designed themselves, including equipment anchors to prevent falling objects and tipping accidents. They also showcased duct inspection robots and drones that check enclosed spaces in place of workers. POSCO applied the best of these cases directly to its sites.
The effort paid off. POSCO, which lost two workers last year, has had no fatal accidents this year. In his New Year's address, Chang said the company must thoroughly analyze and eliminate risk factors at every worksite to achieve the tangible result of zero accidents. The company said it will continue to expand support for creating a safe working environment.
Separately, President Lee called the country's broader progress "a remarkable achievement" at a Cabinet meeting on the 20th, after being briefed that industrial accident deaths totaled 366 through the third quarter of this year, down 19.9%, or 91 deaths, from the same period a year earlier. Still, he urged officials not to ease up on reducing workplace accidents, noting that 366 deaths is not a small number.