Subcontract worker suffers cardiac arrest at Ourhome factory in Yongin — second entrapment accident in a year

A subcontract worker suffered cardiac arrest after becoming trapped in machinery at Ourhome's food processing factory in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province — the second entrapment accident at the facility in just over a year.

The incident occurred at around 2:50 p.m. Monday at the fish cake skewer packaging floor on the fourth floor of Ourhome's Yongin No. 2 factory in Namsa-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin. The worker, identified only as A, became caught in a conveyor belt by the neck.

A was rescued in cardiac arrest and transferred to Korea Hospital in Osan at around 3:25 p.m. Police responded to the scene at the fire department's request for joint response, secured closed-circuit television footage and began questioning witnesses.

Police believe the accident occurred when a hood A was wearing became caught in the conveyor belt mechanism.

Investigators plan to examine whether the company had taken adequate safety precautions. If evidence of insufficient measures is found, those responsible could be booked on charges of occupational negligence causing bodily harm.

The Yongin No. 2 factory was the site of a similar fatal accident roughly a year ago.

On April 4 last year, a worker in his 30s identified as B became trapped by the neck in a cooling machine at the same factory and was rushed to hospital in cardiac arrest. He died five days later.

Ourhome issued a formal apology at the time, saying it extended "sincere and deep condolences to the bereaved family" and offered "apologies and comfort to colleagues at the workplace."

"Given that an accident occurred at the same factory last year, we are taking this matter very seriously and will conduct a thorough investigation," a police official said.