HL Mando Vice Chairman: "We Take Heavy Responsibility for Pyeongtaek Plant Death"… Launching Comprehensive Safety Improvement Plan

Special Safety Inspections Across All Sites with External Expert Organizations

HL Mando will implement a comprehensive safety improvement plan, diagnosing and enhancing safety systems across all sites in collaboration with external safety specialist organizations.

On September 21, at the company headquarters in Pangyo, Vice Chairman Cho Sung-hyun of HL Mando held a press conference announcing an apology statement and the comprehensive safety improvement plan in connection with the death of the late Kim Seungmo. He said, "We feel a heavy sense of responsibility for failing to fulfill our duty to protect precious lives and create a safe workplace."

Yonhap News Agency

Mr. Kim, a subcontracted worker, died on July 22 at HL Mando's Pyeongtaek plant after becoming trapped in the No. 12 machining center during an inspection. The accident occurred because a main contractor manager ordered trial operation of the equipment without checking for internal work in progress.

Vice Chairman Cho stated, "I would like to extend my deepest condolences on the passing of Kim Seungmo in this tragic accident and sincerely express my sympathy and apologies to the bereaved family experiencing profound grief. We do not regard this incident as just a single accident. Instead, we have developed a comprehensive safety improvement plan to revisit and correct shortcomings in our occupational safety and health organization, management system, field execution and investment, and our overall safety culture from the ground up."

HL Mando will conduct annual joint safety diagnostics with external safety specialist organizations, and any issues identified will be addressed through a dedicated improvement roadmap. Additionally, for risks found during special safety inspections, a separate budget will be allocated for rapid remedy. The company will transition from the previous process—which required budget approval before urgent on-site improvements—to a new system where immediate action is taken first, followed by reporting.

Furthermore, the company will fully revamp safety standards from the ground up to strengthen implementation at the workplace and regularly review progress. HL Mando will promote joint labor-management safety walks, where both labor and management check for on-site hazards. The labor union will participate in risk assessments to identify potential threats. The company will also support safety investments for partner firms with limited resources to help them achieve safety independence.

Vice Chairman Cho emphasized, "This plan will not remain a one-time declaration. We will establish concrete roadmaps to ensure thorough implementation and will monitor and manage progress to the end. The results will be directly reviewed by the management, and, if necessary, objectively verified by external experts to rigorously ensure the effectiveness and practical operation of these measures on site."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.