Refer Report

Samsung Electronics’ Giheung plant, where a radiation exposure accident occurred last May, was evaluated as having a lack of understanding of radiation safety management during a regular inspection by the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) under the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) five years ago. It has been figured out. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission recently cited “insufficient management and supervision of radiation safety” as the cause of the radiation exposure accident of two workers.

Looking at the ‘2019 RI (radioactive isotope) periodic inspection results for licensed users of Samsung Electronics Giheung plant’ submitted by the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission to Lee Hoon-ki, a member of the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, on the 2nd, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Kins, who was entrusted with the inspection authority and conducted the inspection, assessed in his ‘general opinion’ that “there is a lack of understanding of radiation safety management.” He also said, “There is a strong will to improve according to the regular inspection guidance, and as (the company) plans to appoint additional radiation safety managers, it is expected that safety management will be systematically performed in the future.”

Radiation generating devices are divided into ‘permitted’ devices and ‘notified’ devices, and the Giheung plant is a licensed user and must undergo regular inspections every five years in accordance with the Nuclear Safety Act. At the time, the inspection did not ‘point out’ that the Nuclear Safety Act had been violated or make any recommendations for improvement or supplementation of deficiencies. However, although it is not mandatory, areas that require improvement, such as insufficient safety management regulations and safety management procedures, were included in the comprehensive opinion as ‘guidance matters’.

Contrary to the promise made in the results at the time, Samsung Electronics did not increase the number of safety managers. The Giheung plant has the same two safety managers as five years ago. The number of radiation-generating devices at the Giheung plant that will be managed by safety managers amounts to 1 device subject to permission and 656 devices subject to reporting. In response to this, a Samsung Electronics official denied the results and said, “We never said we would appoint an additional safety manager.”

Regarding the radiation exposure accident in May, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission recently evaluated the cause of the accident as “the absence of review and approval procedures by radiation safety managers when equipment maintenance matters occur” and pointed out “the lack of a practical management and supervision system by radiation safety managers.” Representative Lee Hoon-ki pointed out, “If Samsung Electronics had reflected the contents of regular inspections five years ago when establishing a safety management system, radiation exposure accidents could have been prevented.”

Meanwhile, Tae-yang Yoon, Chief Safety Officer (Vice President) of Samsung Electronics, is scheduled to appear as a witness and Lee Yong-gyu, a radiation exposure victim, is scheduled to appear as a witness at the National Assembly’s National Security Commission audit held on the 10th.

Reporter Kim Hae-jeong sea@hani.co.kr

Source: Korean