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Samsung Allegedly Delayed Reporting Fatal Gas Leak

By - Source: BGR

Samsung is under investigation over the leak.

Yonhap News Agency reports that Samsung is under investigation for allegedly covering up a gas leak that killed one employee and injured four others.

According to the report, hydrofluoric acid, an acute poison that can seriously damage lungs and bones in addition to affecting the nervous system, leaked from a 500 liter tank located at a semiconductor plant in Hwaseong, South Korea, just south of Seoul. It began leaking in gas form Sunday night around 11pm local time.

Presumably fixed before getting too far out of hand, the tank reportedly sprung another leak, secreting about 10 liters at 5am Monday morning. One subcontractor collapsed at the scene and died from prolonged exposure later at the hospital. Four others were also hospitalized, but were discharged shortly thereafter.

"A small amount of diluted hydrofluoric acid leaked early Monday morning during maintenance at one of the gas and chemical supply systems at the Hwaseong site," Samsung confirmed. The situation was contained and production was not affected, the company added.

Samsung reportedly didn't tell the proper authorities about both instances for more than a full day after the workers were hospitalized. Now the company is under investigation by the local police and fire departments for not reporting the incident sooner, to determine whether workers had access to proper safety equipment, and to figure out why the tank leaked the poisonous gas in the first place.

Samsung did not respond to questions about why it delayed in properly telling authorities about the gas leak.

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There are 17 Comments.
Top Comments
  • 11
    unimatrixzero , January 29, 2013 4:56 AM
    twisted politiksReally, one day and they are being investigated? I could see if it were weeks, or months. But 24 hours is a quick turn around as far as incidents like this having to travel through all the proper channels inside the company before being sent to the proper authorities.


    As a matter of standard procedures, hazardous materials incidents are to immediately be reported to proper authorities (police, fire, haz mat teams) to help contain the incident & safely evacuate people to a safe distance. Additionally, some "accidents" may even be intentional, criminal, or terrorist activity related. Reporting the incident after a full day is obviously negligent & could have made the situation worse had it gotten out of hand.
  • 11
    A Bad Day , January 29, 2013 4:32 AM
    twisted politiksReally, one day and they are being investigated? I could see if it were weeks, or months. But 24 hours is a quick turn around as far as incidents like this having to travel through all the proper channels inside the company before being sent to the proper authorities.


    I'm fairly sure you're required to report industrial accidents ASAP. If your organization cannot relay critical information to other departments/people quickly, then there's something wrong.
  • 11
    twisted politiks , January 29, 2013 4:26 AM
    Really, one day and they are being investigated? I could see if it were weeks, or months. But 24 hours is a quick turn around as far as incidents like this having to travel through all the proper channels inside the company before being sent to the proper authorities.
Other Comments
  • 11
    twisted politiks , January 29, 2013 4:26 AM
    Really, one day and they are being investigated? I could see if it were weeks, or months. But 24 hours is a quick turn around as far as incidents like this having to travel through all the proper channels inside the company before being sent to the proper authorities.
  • 2
    neon neophyte , January 29, 2013 4:30 AM
    from what i read, it wasnt just some random employee that died but rather the guy who went in to fix it.

  • 11
    A Bad Day , January 29, 2013 4:32 AM
    twisted politiksReally, one day and they are being investigated? I could see if it were weeks, or months. But 24 hours is a quick turn around as far as incidents like this having to travel through all the proper channels inside the company before being sent to the proper authorities.


    I'm fairly sure you're required to report industrial accidents ASAP. If your organization cannot relay critical information to other departments/people quickly, then there's something wrong.
  • 0
    anonymous@guest , January 29, 2013 4:37 AM
    Here is the link to SHARPS on Samsung's chemical leaks:

    http://stopsamsung.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/samsung-seen-covering-up-fatal-gas-leaks-at-its-chip-plant/
  • 11
    unimatrixzero , January 29, 2013 4:56 AM
    twisted politiksReally, one day and they are being investigated? I could see if it were weeks, or months. But 24 hours is a quick turn around as far as incidents like this having to travel through all the proper channels inside the company before being sent to the proper authorities.


    As a matter of standard procedures, hazardous materials incidents are to immediately be reported to proper authorities (police, fire, haz mat teams) to help contain the incident & safely evacuate people to a safe distance. Additionally, some "accidents" may even be intentional, criminal, or terrorist activity related. Reporting the incident after a full day is obviously negligent & could have made the situation worse had it gotten out of hand.
  • -5
    Phenis , January 29, 2013 5:16 AM
    Blood silicon.
  • -5
    otacon72 , January 29, 2013 5:21 AM
    twisted politiksReally, one day and they are being investigated? I could see if it were weeks, or months. But 24 hours is a quick turn around as far as incidents like this having to travel through all the proper channels inside the company before being sent to the proper authorities.


    The fact you're defending Samsung is just sad.
  • 0
    GabZDK , January 29, 2013 5:31 AM
    PhenisBlood silicon.


    I know is bad, but I just ROFL'd at that
  • -1
    Spooderman , January 29, 2013 7:49 AM
    otacon72The fact you're defending Samsung is just sad.


    Lemme guess, you're an iDiot.
  • -1
    halcyon , January 29, 2013 8:30 AM
    If this had been Apple many folks here would be upset by this negligence...nut since it's Samsung not so much. Interesting...Blood Silicon indeed. (Looks at my Note 2 with much affection).
  • 0
    digiex , January 29, 2013 1:15 PM
    Typical Asian Red Tape.
  • -2
    downhill911 , January 29, 2013 1:52 PM
    So this is supposed to make APPLE look better?
    Since when Tomshardware.com is into factory/manufacturing incidents?
    I feel sorry for that girl and her family but there are people dying at work everywhere and everyday.

    Source : http://www.bls.gov/iif/
  • -1
    susyque747 , January 29, 2013 5:50 PM
    neon neophytefrom what i read, it wasnt just some random employee that died but rather the guy who went in to fix it.

    Then either the repairman didn't know what he was dealing with or he was an idiot for not wearing proper gear.
  • 0
    mrmotion , January 29, 2013 7:00 PM
    AnonymousHere is the link to SHARPS on Samsung's chemical leaks:http://stopsamsung.wordpress.com/2 [...] hip-plant/


    Seems like an impartial source...
  • 0
    robochump , January 30, 2013 12:12 AM
    twisted politiksReally, one day and they are being investigated? I could see if it were weeks, or months. But 24 hours is a quick turn around as far as incidents like this having to travel through all the proper channels inside the company before being sent to the proper authorities.


    You are kidding right?!? Silly fan boys.
  • 0
    maestintaolius , January 30, 2013 1:49 AM
    twisted politiksReally, one day and they are being investigated? I could see if it were weeks, or months. But 24 hours is a quick turn around as far as incidents like this having to travel through all the proper channels inside the company before being sent to the proper authorities.

    HF is not something you fuck around with, you immediately notify the authorities.
  • 1
    anonymous@guest , January 30, 2013 2:44 PM
    I dare twisted politiks to huff HF gas for a day. I'd even buy him a new Samesung device if he did...
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