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The Korean branch of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development on Wednesday called on Samsung Heavy Industries Co. to fulfill its corporate responsibility to better ensure job site safety after a fatal crane accident in 2017.
In May 2017, two cranes collided at the shipbuilder’s shipyard in the southeastern port city of Geoje, killing six people and injuring 25 others.
Civic groups filed a complaint with Korea’s OECD National Contact Point in 2019 against Samsung Heavy and three European companies – TechnipFMC and Total in France, and Equinor in Norway – claiming they had failed to properly handle the workplace in violation of organizational guidelines.
After due deliberation and procedures, the bureau issued a final statement on Wednesday, recommending that Samsung fully implement its existing measures to prevent industrial accidents and ensure worker safety.
He also advised the company to submit documents on the implementation of the regulations within six months, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
The statement, which contains the demands of both parties and these non-binding recommendations, means that the matter is closed, as the two parties have failed to reach an agreement despite four mediation sessions.
Samsung claimed that its work process rules already involved measures to prevent such accidents and that the 2017 case arose due to the professional negligence of workers at the time.
The complaint against the European companies was handled at the NCP in Norway, according to the ministry.
The KNCP, established in 2001, aims to promote the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, which are voluntary recommendations aimed at minimizing the negative impacts of the activities of multinational enterprises and strengthening responsible business.
A total of 50 countries, including 38 OECD member countries, now operate their own NCPs, the ministry said. (Yonhap)