First simultaneous shutdown since 2023 merger; propellant processes to be automated; Ministry of Employment and Labor conducts search and seizure at headquarters, Daejeon plant
Hanwha Aerospace has suspended production lines at its domestic facilities through Friday, excluding some essential processes, to conduct a special safety inspection and employee safety education.
It is the first time since the company's integrated entity was launched in 2023 that it has simultaneously halted production lines across multiple sites. The shutdown is aimed at preventing a recurrence of the kind of accident that struck its Daejeon facility on Monday. Hanwha Aerospace said it plans to use the occasion to establish and implement a comprehensive, high-intensity safety reform package.
The special inspection covers nine sites nationwide, which will suspend operations for two days and carry out safety checks and employee education. The sites include propellant and propellant charge production facilities in Daejeon, Boeun in North Chungcheong Province, and Yeosu in South Jeolla Province; the first, second and third plants in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, which produce K-9 self-propelled howitzers, armored vehicles and aircraft engines; and R&D campuses in Daejeon, Pangyo and Asan.
All sites will conduct comprehensive checks covering fire and explosion hazards, serious accident risk factors, unsafe conditions and facilities, risk assessments, and past accident cases. The reviews will include re-examinations of machinery, work environments and structures. Corrective measures taken over the past three years based on risk assessment results, as well as the implementation status of recurrence-prevention plans, are also subject to inspection.
Particularly at the Daejeon, Boeun and Yeosu sites, which handle explosives, inspectors will examine all processes, including protective equipment in each workroom, grounding conditions, temperature and humidity levels, tool and jig management, and the aging of safety equipment. Storage and waste explosive management will also be reviewed. Emergency response drills based on each workroom's emergency scenarios will be conducted as well.
Hanwha Aerospace has decided to pursue unmanned automation of propellant production and handling processes at the Daejeon, Boeun and Yeosu sites as part of its drive to eliminate safety accidents. While some high-risk processes have already been automated or are under construction, the company said it will also review and pursue automation for processes previously deemed lower risk.
Hanwha Aerospace will also hold special safety education sessions for employees Thursday and Friday.
Hanwha Group has also decided to conduct detailed environmental safety inspections at all domestic and overseas facilities of its petrochemical affiliates, including Hanwha Corporation, Hanwha Solutions, Hanwha TotalEnergies, Hanwha Impact and YNCC. Each company is to form a self-inspection team led by its chief executive by June 10 and carry out comprehensive reviews covering on-site work safety management, production processes and environmental matters.
Meanwhile, the Daejeon branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor said Thursday it is conducting search and seizure operations at Hanwha Aerospace's Seoul headquarters and its Daejeon facility in connection with the explosion at the Daejeon plant.
yeongdai@heraldcorp.com
