SEOUL, May 30 (AJU PRESS) - South Korean authorities are investigating after two workers at a Samsung Electronics semiconductor plant were exposed to radiation, rekindling longstanding concerns about safety lapses at the tech giant's production lines.
The workers were operating an X-ray inspection machine on a chip production line at Samsung's plant in Giheung, south of Seoul, on Monday when their hands were accidentally exposed to radiation, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission said Wednesday.
The two employees visited a radiation emergency medical center in Seoul later that day after showing symptoms like swollen fingers and red spots on their hands.
Their initial blood tests came back normal. The workers, who were hospitalized Monday, were discharged on Wednesday after undergoing additional tests, including for potential chromosome abnormalities.
The commission sent officials to the Giheung facility to investigate the cause of the incident. The use of the radiation-emitting device involved in the incident has been suspended.
The commission said if any violations of safety regulations are confirmed, it will take strict administrative measures.
The world's largest memory chip maker said it is fully cooperating with the probe and making efforts to prevent any recurrence. The company added it is providing support for the workers' treatment and recovery.
The incident reignites disputes surrounding workplace safety at Samsung's facilities. In the past, dozens of employees who worked at Samsung chip and display plants have experienced grave illnesses such as leukemia and brain tumors.
In 2018, the company acknowledged safety lapses and apologized for the illnesses and deaths of some of its workers.
