Company Acknowledges Insufficient Safety Measures Following Fatal Explosion
Following a devastating explosion at its Daejeon facility that resulted in five fatalities and two injuries, Hanwha Aerospace has admitted that the working environment was not sufficiently safe to prevent the incident. The company has pledged to take full responsibility for the tragedy.
Plant Manager Expresses Deep Regret
During a briefing held at the Yuseong-gu District Office on June 2nd, the manager of Hanwha Aerospace’s Daejeon plant, Mr. Ga, stated, “I believe the failure to abandon long-standing practices, which were based on tradition and habit, led to this incident.” He issued a formal apology for the event.
This statement marked a shift from the plant manager’s remarks the previous day, where he had described the cleansing work preceding the explosion as not being considered inherently dangerous. This earlier statement had drawn criticism from labor unions, prompting the revised stance.
Revisiting Safety Protocols
The explosion occurred during the process of cleansing residual explosives used in rocket propellant manufacturing. A company representative explained that the explosives were believed to lose their hazardous properties upon contact with water. However, Mr. Ga clarified his earlier statement, saying, “I did not say it was not dangerous, but rather that it was considered less dangerous.” He added, “We should have examined it more meticulously and I am deeply reflecting on my oversight.”
Regarding the cleansing agent used, Mr. Ga explained, “We confirm the stability and explosion risks of the product and grant permission for its use if deemed safe.” He continued, “We believed it to be safe, but I am reflecting on whether our judgment was insufficient.”
Addressing concerns about the safety education provided to the two non-regular workers, both in their 20s, who died at the scene, Mr. Ga stated, “Legally, workers must complete mandatory training before being allowed onto the work site and must follow work standards.” He noted that since incidents in 2018 and 2019, safety training and preparations are conducted for 30 minutes before each work shift. He concluded, “Although we did our best, it was insufficient.”
History of Incidents at the Daejeon Facility
This is not the first incident at the Hanwha Aerospace Daejeon plant. In May 2018, an explosion occurred during the process of filling solid propellant into rocket booster casings, resulting in five deaths and four injuries. Subsequently, in September of the same year and again in February 2019, further explosions led to the deaths of three workers.
Commitment to a Safer Future
Hanwha has vowed to improve its safety environment in light of this latest tragedy. Mr. Ga stated, “We will ensure that such an accident does not happen again.” He added, “As a company responsible for national defense, we must rise again. We will introduce new technologies and enhance safety facilities.” He also mentioned that the company was in the process of exploring new investments and technologies related to the cleansing equipment this year.
Mr. Ga further emphasized, “Although we have implemented various safety measures since the 2018 and 2019 incidents, we have now learned that they were not entirely effective.” He stressed the need for thorough re-evaluation and additional measures to ensure safety.
CEO’s Pledge for Accountability
Mr. Son Jae-il, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, offered his sincere apologies to the victims and their families. “I deeply apologize to the citizens for the great concern we have caused,” he stated. “As CEO, I will accept any responsibility and punishment given.”
