Labor ministry refers DN Automotive to police over alleged 'vitamin shot' lead-flushing scheme

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has referred DN Automotive to police on suspicion that the battery manufacturer deceived workers by administering lead-flushing injections disguised as vitamins ahead of mandatory health screenings, determining that the practice obstructed government health protection measures.

The ministry said Monday it had conducted a safety and health inspection and a detailed workplace environment assessment at DN Automotive's Ulsan factory, uncovering 68 violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and forwarding the case for prosecution. The company was also fined 46.2 million won ($34,500).

The probe began after a tip-off in late January raised suspicions that the company had been periodically administering "chelation" injections — which accelerate the excretion of heavy metals from the body — while telling workers they were receiving vitamins, in an apparent effort to suppress elevated lead readings during special health screenings.

The ministry determined that administering the chelation injections immediately before the screenings constituted obstruction of government health protection measures, and referred the company to police on charges of interference with official duties. The Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency is currently handling the investigation.

The ministry issued a suspension order on lead-exposure processes from April 21 to May 7, and launched a planned inspection of 14 other battery manufacturing facilities of a similar type.

Follow-up investigations into the health impact on workers and improvements to the work environment are also under way. On Thursday, the ministry launched the "DN Automotive Lead Exposure Investigation and Work Environment Improvement Committee," comprising nine experts recommended by labor, management and government. The committee will operate through three subcommittees covering health, work environment and epidemiology.

The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency convened its epidemiological investigation evaluation committee on Sept. 18 and decided to conduct a group epidemiological study covering all current and former DN Automotive workers, including retirees, to determine the extent to which lead exposure has affected their health.