Up to six workers fainted after inhaling toxic gas at POSCO's Pohang Steelworks on Thursday. The incident happened during sludge removal outside a plant, with authorities suspecting carbon monoxide poisoning. Conflicting reports on the number of casualties have emerged from officials.
The accident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on November 20 at POSCO's Pohang Steelworks in Pohang, 262 kilometers southeast of Seoul, while contracted cleaners and POSCO employees were removing sludge outside a plant.
Initial reports indicated three people were affected, but updates suggested up to six. Firefighting authorities reported three in cardiac arrest and three others hospitalized with injuries. Police stated the six involved two contracted cleaners and four POSCO in-house firefighters, with the two cleaners in cardiac arrest. The company, however, said three—one POSCO employee and two cleaners—were hospitalized, two in cardiac arrest.
A police official remarked, "It's taking time to determine the exact outline of the accident and extent of damage." Authorities cited carbon monoxide poisoning as a possible cause.
This incident follows a similar event two weeks earlier at the same steelworks, where one worker died and three suffered burns from exposure to chemicals from damaged pipes. Investigations continue.