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A gas leak at a Samsung semiconductor plant in Hwaseong, Korea, last night killed a worker—and local news sources are suggesting that a cover-up by Sammy could be behind the incident.
Yonhap News is reporting that a 132-gallon tank of hydrofluoric acid began leaking last night at the plant. An initial leak apparently occurred at 11pm, and then a subsequent leak at 5am, in total issuing 2.6 gallons of acid, mainly in gaseous form. While the precise order of events remains unclear, it is suggested that Samsung then called a maintenance team to fix the problem, but did not report the incident to “appropriate authorities” until just after 3pm—an hour after a worker from the maintenance team died from exposure to the acid.
Four other workers were hospitalized, but are apparently now in full health. Samsung is being investigated to assess what happened, and if the maintenance team were issued with appropriate safety equipment. [Yohap News Agency via Verge]
Image by opopododo under Creative Commons license
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The offending acid was neutralised at the scene.
Hydrofluoric acid is not like hydrochloric acid, it penetrates the skin and attacks the bones of the victim. Workers with this metal cleaning acid have to eat dozens of eggs just to replace the calcium it destroys in the body from the vapours alone. I can’t see these workers getting a clean bill of health if they have been exposed.