Labor Ministry launches safety inspections at 25 semiconductor firms, including SK Hynix

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has launched a sweeping safety inspection of semiconductor manufacturing facilities, including SK Hynix, following a series of fluorine leak incidents at the chipmaker.

The move aims to prevent major industrial accidents — including fires, explosions and chemical leaks — given the semiconductor industry's heavy use of hazardous chemicals and high-pressure gases.

The ministry said Thursday that it would conduct intensive inspections at 25 semiconductor manufacturers, including SK Hynix, starting that day. The targeted companies are those where serious injuries have occurred repeatedly or that the ministry designated this year as extremely high-risk workplaces.

Semiconductor manufacturing is widely regarded as one of the highest-risk industries because it involves large quantities of flammable liquids and gases as well as acutely toxic substances — all of which can cause mass casualties if an accident occurs. The ministry said the recent string of fluorine leaks had underscored the need to strengthen on-site safety management.

Inspectors will focus on whether companies are following proper procedures for handling hazardous materials and carrying out required safety measures. Specifically, they will check compliance with safety rules for handling flammable liquids, gases and acutely toxic substances, as well as measures to prevent chemical leaks and guard against fires and explosions. Inspectors will also verify adherence to basic safety rules aimed at preventing common workplace accidents such as entrapment and falls.

Any violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act uncovered during the inspections will be dealt with strictly under applicable regulations. For workplaces deemed at particularly high risk of a major industrial accident, the ministry plans to order safety and health assessments alongside the development and implementation of improvement plans to overhaul overall safety management systems.

"The semiconductor industry is a pillar of South Korea's economy, but because it handles hazardous chemicals and high-pressure gases, even a single accident can result in mass casualties," Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon said. "We take the recent accidents very seriously, and we will do our utmost to prevent industrial accidents and major industrial disasters by conducting thorough inspections of risk factors at semiconductor manufacturers."