Another worker suffers serious accident at SPC factory

SPC's Shany factory at Seongnam, Gyeonggi. [YONHAP]

A 56-year-old woman was rushed to the hospital in a state of cardiac arrest after she was caught in a machine at SPC Group’s Shany confectionery factory in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, on Tuesday.

Police and emergency personnel say they brought the woman to a nearby hospital 30 minutes after they received an emergency call around 12:40 p.m.

According to SPC, the woman has started breathing again and is awaiting surgery.

The factory immediately shut down production after the accident.

"SPC Group sends our deepest condolences to the employee and her family," SPC Group said in a statement.

It said police are conducting an investigation, adding that the company will fully cooperate in finding the cause of the accident.

Last October, the company faced strong public criticism after a 23-year-old employee at the company's bread-making factory in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, died after she got caught in an industrial mixer.

She was working alone at the time, contrary to factory safety regulations mandating that workers work with partners.

SPC Group chairman Hur Young-in issued an apology after the October accident and pledged to determine the cause of the accident and prevent further mishaps.

The death of the young employee occurred a week after a similar accident when a worker got their hand stuck in the machine.

Under the Serious Accident Punishment Act that went into effect in January 2022, a business owner or business manager could face up to a year in prison or up to 1 billion won ($759,000) in fines when serious industrial accidents occur.

In December the Labor Ministry fined the affiliates of SPC Grup 600 million won for safety violations.

Kang Dong-seok was removed as the CEO of SPL, an affiliate of SPC Group, after the employee's death. Police also referred him to the prosecutors' office for indictment on charges of violating the Serious Accident Punishment Act in February.

SPC Group is Korea's biggest bakery and confectionary company whose brand includes Paris Baguette, Baskin Robbins and Dunkin'. It also owns the operation rights of the hamburger brand Shake Shack.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]