Samsung gets off with $7,900 fine for exposing workers to radiation

A South Korean regulator has found that Samsung Electronics violated safety regulations regarding radiation sources, exposing workers at its semiconductor plant to radiation. The company was given a modest fine, but it may not be the only one.

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The Nuclear Safety Commission imposed an administrative penalty on Samsung in the form of a fine of 10.5 million won ($7,900) based on the results of its investigation, Bloomberg reports, citing a statement from the agency. The company could also face additional fines for two other violations, one of the officials said.

In May, two Samsung workers in Giheung, 40 km from Seoul, were exposed to radiation levels that significantly exceeded the annual norm. The incident occurred during maintenance work on equipment that analyzes silicon wafers. Both victims were hospitalized.

A safety device that automatically turns off the radiation source when the door is opened failed due to negligence on the part of Samsung’s radiation safety department. Company management said it is ready to cooperate with the investigation and provide assistance to injured workers. And he promised to do everything possible to prevent such incidents in the future.