Police have opened an investigation into DN Automotive, a battery manufacturer accused of administering lead-purging drugs, known as chelation therapy, to workers shortly before special health screenings.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor said on the 12th that it had concluded the practice of giving chelation treatment ahead of the screenings amounted to interference with health protection measures, and in August asked the National Police Agency to investigate DN Automotive and the hospital involved on suspicion of obstruction of business. The ministry applied the obstruction charge because the current Occupational Safety and Health Act contains no provision directly penalizing the administration of chelation drugs.
After receiving a tip in late January, the ministry carried out a safety and health inspection and detailed workplace environment measurements in March and April, booking the company over 68 violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and referring the case to prosecutors. It also imposed fines of 46.2 million won on the workplace and ordered a suspension of operations at lead-exposure processes from April 21 to May 7. The workplace measurement agency found to have conducted faulty assessments was suspended from business for three months.
The ministry has widened the inquiry across the industry. It is conducting planned inspections and detailed workplace environment measurements at 14 other battery manufacturing sites. It has also asked special health screening centers nationwide to monitor for chelation treatment, including through questionnaires given to those being examined.
Efforts to change the rules and prevent a recurrence are also under way. A committee on identifying lead exposure at DN Automotive and improving its working environment, made up of nine experts recommended by labor, management and the government, was launched on the 8th and operates three subcommittees covering health, the working environment and epidemiological investigation. The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency plans to conduct a group epidemiological survey of all workers, including retirees, following a decision by its epidemiological investigation review committee on the 18th of last month.