hankyoreh

Kim Kyung-rok　
　　
It has been confirmed that a work environment study commissioned by Samsung Electronics on its semiconductor production line last July was virtually completed in November. Moreover, it has been belatedly learned that a former employee who was developed leukemia after working on the semiconductor line for 20 years died in November.
Samsung Electronics Semiconductor Business President Kwon Oh-hyun told the Hankyoreh on Tuesday, “The study, conducted by outside specialists, is complete, and we will announce the results after they have been carefully considered.”
Samsung Electronics put together an investigation team composed of about 20 individuals, including U.S. consulting firm Environ International and researchers from Johns Hopkins University, who have been conducting a study of the work environment of the semiconductor factory in Giheung.
When announcing the plan to commission the study, Samsung Electronics said the study would take a year. With it finishing in just three months, however, doubts have arisen about how in-depth the study was. About this, Samsung said the study was divided into three parts - a qualitative study, a quantitative study and an over-all study - and the completed study to which Kwon referred was the qualitative study. This is to say, the on-site study of the production line ended in November, but follow-up studies, including work to quantify the situation based on the results, are now underway.
Talk of a different nature is coming from within Samsung, however.
A Samsung official said, “The study was virtually completed in November, and while some follow-up measures remain, the company is putting more effort into the timing and method of announcing the results, taking into consideration the expected impact.” The official added, “Since the company has frequently upgraded the workplace, there is a limit to the extent to which the researchers could study the work environment actually experienced by the employees who came down with leukemia.”
There are also questions regarding the independence of the study. This is because the study team was composed of outside experts, but the study took the form of a “service contract” with compensation paid to the experts from Samsung Electronics. Through its company letter, APG Asset Management, one of the world’s three largest pension companies, pointed out that even though Samsung Electronics says its an independent study, it was unclear whether it really was.
Amid this, it was confirmed that a Mr. Ju, 45, who come down with leukemia after working in Samsung Electronic’s semiconductor sector, died on Nov 14. Ju, a researcher with a doctorate, worked for 23 years at the Giheung factory from the time he joined the company in 1983. His disease developed after he transferred to Samsung Electro-Mechanics in February 2006.
Labor groups said a total of 104 workers have come down with rare diseases like various forms of cancer, leukemia and lymph node diseases after working in Samsung’s electronics factories, including the semiconductor production lines. Of these, 15 have died.
In addition, a 25-year-old laborer surnamed Kim Tuesday jumped to his death out of the window at 13th floor of the boarding house in Samsung Electronics Tangjeong factory. He suffered from stress and depression that resulted from his job since last November, his father said.
　
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