Safety lapses and heavy workloads blamed for HD Hyundai accident
Surge in orders warrants greater attention to worker safety
Union stated that insufficient safety measures and a hectic schedule at the shipyard were causes of the incident
INADEQUATE compliance with safety guidelines, coupled with increased pressure from heavy workloads, are said to have caused a major injury incident at South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Two yard workers suffered severe burns in the electronics room of the No. 8 Goliath crane at HD HHI’s Ulsan shipyard during the weekend.
The union claimed that the injuries, with burns deeper than three degrees, would require more than three months of treatment, classifying it as a serious accident.
Under South Korea’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, a serious industrial accident is defined as one or more deaths, two or more people requiring more than three months of recovery simultaneously, or more than 10 injuries or occupational illnesses.
The union attributed the incident to the yard’s intense workload. “No matter how busy the work is, standard work instructions and risk assessments should be followed,” it said.
“The basic rule is to establish safety guidelines correctly and base work on them. However, because the basics were not followed, the accident occurred.”
Witness reports revealed that a problem with Goliath crane No. 8 was reported in the morning of the accident. Maintenance was carried out and the equipment was restarted.
In the afternoon, a loud bang was heard, and the crane lost power. Following advice from an external specialist over the phone, workers began reconnecting the main power. During this process, another explosion occurred, igniting the clothes of two workers.
The union identified three critical issues with the incident: the work was restarted without disconnecting the main power; despite a reported issue with the main power, no proper investigation was conducted before supervisors proceeded to restart the work; and standard work instructions and risk assessments were not followed.
A union official told Lloyd’s List: “Regular checks on safety compliance and equipment should be strengthened.”
The incident comes as the operational capacity ratio of HD HHI has risen sharply. It was 63.2% in the third quarter of 2022, increasing to 78.9% in 2023, and reaching 94.6% in the third quarter of this year.
This high capacity is supported by a strong orderbook. As of October 2024, the shipbuilder had secured orders worth over $10bn, surpassing its annual target of $9.5bn.
