Solvent-free Paint Causes Skin Disease
A skin disease that broke out among painting workers at Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyards turned out to be caused by a solvent-free paint that the shipbuilding company claimed to be eco-friendly.
The Ministry of Employment said on Aug. 1 that the skin disease that began to be found in HHI painting workers from September 2020 is highly likely to be caused by a hypersensitive substance in the solvent-free paint the company used.
Employment Minister Ahn Kyung-deok and Environment Minister Han Jung-ae sent a letter to the 10 largest shipbuilders urging them to try to reduce harmful substances.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor said it conducted a medical test on 1,080 workers at 10 companies, including three HHI shipyards, three paint manufacturers, and four other shipyards fom February to April. It found that 55 workers were suffering from a skin disease, with workers at HHI shipyards accounting for 53.
The ministry said that the solvent-free paint contained a lower level of volatile organic compounds compared with existing paints. But it had a higher level of hypersensitive substances such as epoxy resins. The ministry judged that hypersensitive substances were the main cause of the workers' skin disease. The company used the solvent-free paint as part of its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it led to skin disorders for its workers.
A bigger problem is that HHI violated the Industrial Safety Act by failing to assess risks in the process of developing and using the solvent-free paint. Under the law, employers should assess risk factors stemming from raw materials and take measures in advance to address them.
The Ministry of Employment told Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Mipo Shipyard and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries to take safety and health measures. The ministry plans to periodically check whether these companies observe the order.
The ministry will inform other shipbuilders of the cause, problems and measures of the case. It said that its officials would go out to check labor practices if another similar case takes place.