HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is launching a "Safety Shutdown" that halts operations across all of its sites, aiming to fundamentally prevent serious industrial accidents and rebuild its workplace safety system. The measure follows a stern recognition and decision by management that "there is no value more important than the lives and safety of employees," amid heightened alarm caused by a series of safety accidents.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries said on the 27th that it will implement a "Safety Shutdown" across all its sites for three days starting the 29th.
During the safety shutdown period, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries plans to concentrate all its capabilities on rebuilding its overall safety management system.
On the 29th, the first day of the shutdown, the company will conduct special safety training for all employees. Then, for two days from the 30th, it will fully suspend production at all sites and carry out intensive safety inspections.
The company will conduct new risk assessments across all sites and comprehensively re-examine high-risk processes. It will substantially improve safety and disaster-prevention facilities as well as the working environment. It will also work to identify risk factors reflecting voices from the field and to strengthen the safety system. In particular, the company decided to thoroughly rule out perfunctory, for-show inspections, and to strictly restrict the resumption of work on a given process until hazards found in the field are completely resolved.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries firmly established the principle that, on the occasion of this measure, it will resume operations only when on-site safety has been clearly secured.
"We feel a heavy responsibility for the recent safety accidents, and we sincerely apologize for causing concern to citizens and workers," an HD Hyundai Heavy Industries official said. "This safety shutdown is not a for-show measure but a new turning point that changes the company's safety culture from the roots." The official added, "We will resume operations only when on-site safety is secured, and we will concentrate all our capabilities on creating a workplace where all workers, including those at partner companies, can work with peace of mind."
