LG Display has decided to appoint a CSEO (Chief Safety Executive Officer) that is able to give an order for work stoppage or operation stoppage in case there is a safety issue. Its decision comes from its plan to innovate safety management level throughout the company’s workplaces as it recently experienced an accident back in January when a harmful chemical substance was leaked from a plant. It is determined to prevent any safety accident through a CSEO who will be given power like that of a CEO.
The company announced the “four safety management innovative measures” on Tuesday to prevent any safety accident at its workplaces. These measures include accurate safety inspection at all workplaces, internalization of dangerous jobs that are important, growth of personnel related to safe environment and enhanced support for subcontractors, and enhanced power and abilities to groups that are responsible for safety.
The company has decided to carry out very thorough safety inspection at all of its workplaces immediately. This inspection will not be limited to time and finances like the ones from the past. It is carried out in order to prepare comprehensive solutions. The company plans to come up with detailed and practical plans by having workers who work at the front line also participate in the inspection addition to agencies that specialize in safety inspection.
The company has also decided to appoint a CSEO who will be given the right to stop work or operation when necessary. Regarding safety, a CSEO will be given power equal to that of a CEO. Due to characteristics of display industry, continuity in operation is very important. Once a production line is stopped for any reason, significant amount of time and cost can be wasted from re-operation of the line and shipment of products. As a result, LG Display has decided to give power to a CSEO equal to that of a CEO so that issues within workplaces can be improved from ground up and secure a certain level of safety throughout its workplaces.
In January, LG Display experienced an accident where a harmful chemical substance called “TMAH (Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide)” was leaked while pipes were being connected at its P8 plant in Paju. As a result, six people including two people from subcontractors were injured.
President Jeong Ho-young of LG Display put out a written apology right after the accident occurred and stated that he felt a sense of strong responsibility and that he would take a belt and braces approach towards overall safety measures.
LG Display has also decided to internalize dangerous jobs that are important. Jobs that were done by subcontractors will now be handled or managed by the company. The company’s win-win cooperation fund will also be used for subcontractors so that they can expand their safety facilities and increase number of safety management personnel.
LG Display stated that it plans to carry out the four measures as soon as possible and that it would also publicize the result from the four measures sometime in the second half this year.
President Jeong said that no management is ever more important than one’s life and safety and that the company would achieve fundamental innovation in safety management by having lives and safety of employees from LG Display and subcontractors as a top priority in any management activity.
Staff Reporter Yun, Geonil | beyun@etnews.com