https://www.khan.co.kr/national/national-general/article/202301041350001
Kyunghyang Newspaper
4 January 2023
A Samsung factory worker fighting breast cancer dies just before applying for workers’ compensation
An employee who developed breast cancer while working with harmful substances in LCD manufacturing at Samsung Display during night shifts passed away on the last day of last year, just before filing for workers’ compensation.
According to the explanation of the civic group, SHARPS, and the results of the Kyunghyang Newspaper on the 4th, Park (38), who worked at Samsung Display's Cheonan plant, died of breast cancer on December 31st last year.
Park joined the Cheonan plant in 2003 and worked as an operator for LCD manufacturing lines. The LCD manufacturing line is a sealed "clean room" to prevent dust from entering, and operators work with harmful chemicals in unventilated spaces. SHARPS believes that Park also worked in the color filter (CF) process and module process and was continuously exposed to carcinogens such as photosensitizers, organic solvents, and other unidentified ingredients.
"Park worked right next to the oven to bake the photosensitizer, and every time the oven opened, there was a disgusting burning smell but there was no proper action to block exposure," SHARPS said. "There was also a risk of radiation exposure through an X-ray electrostatic removal device that is highly associated with breast cancer," SHARPS added.
Due to the 24-hour operation characteristics of LCD manufacturing lines, night shifts are frequent. Park is also known to have worked two or three rotating shifts including night work for 11 years. Night shift is pointed out as one of the factors that disrupt biorhythm and reduce immunity, causing cancer. In 2019, the International Agency for Research on Cancer under the World Health Organization (WHO) designated night work as a probable carcinogen (2A group). It has been consistently pointed out that hormonal disturbance caused by night work affects the development of breast cancer, uterine cancer, and ovarian cancer.
Park was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2016, 13 years after joining the company. She was 32 years old at the time. There was no family history of breast cancer. Park resigned in June 2021 as her cancer continued to worsen.
In 2021, Park asked SHARPS for advice on applying for workers’ compensation for occupational cancer. While preparing to apply for workers’ compensation, she continued to receive chemotherapy. Due to side effects, there was a heart problem, so she stopped chemotherapy for a while and then started again.
Park died on December 31st last year, just before applying for workers’ compensation. Lee Jong-ran, a certified labor attorney who worked with Park on the preparation of her workers’ compensation application, said in a telephone interview with Kyunghyang Shinmun, "I prepared all the industrial accident application documents and left only Park’s review, but I could not reach her. I called recently and her husband answered the phone and said that Park died." Lee added that Park's husband had been too busy to notify her about Park's death. Park has a son in the lower grades of elementary school. Park's death made it impossible for her to apply for workers’ compensation. However, if the bereaved family wants, there is a way to receive compensation by applying for survivor's benefits.
SHARPS pointed out that workers' safety protection measures for semiconductor and display-related processes are poor. "The health impact of night shifts is serious, but no measures have been taken," SHARPS said. "We are not even guaranteed the proper right to know about chemicals that workers can be exposed to on the site."
Some pointed out that the safety of women vulnerable to hormonal diseases is seriously threatened. Even before Park died, Samsung Display reported that A (39) died of breast cancer in September 2021, B (38) died of cervical cancer in October last year, and C (57) died of ovarian cancer on December 19th.
“Behind the reality of female workers constantly sick and dying in high-tech industries, there are companies that put profits ahead of workers' health,” SHARPS said. "We are angry at the current government for easing regulations on working hours and chemicals to drive more workers to disease and death."
Samsung Display said, "There is no specific comment."
https://www.khan.co.kr/national/national-general/article/202301041350001
Kyunghyang Newspaper
4 January 2023
A Samsung factory worker fighting breast cancer dies just before applying for workers’ compensation
An employee who developed breast cancer while working with harmful substances in LCD manufacturing at Samsung Display during night shifts passed away on the last day of last year, just before filing for workers’ compensation.
According to the explanation of the civic group, SHARPS, and the results of the Kyunghyang Newspaper on the 4th, Park (38), who worked at Samsung Display's Cheonan plant, died of breast cancer on December 31st last year.
Park joined the Cheonan plant in 2003 and worked as an operator for LCD manufacturing lines. The LCD manufacturing line is a sealed "clean room" to prevent dust from entering, and operators work with harmful chemicals in unventilated spaces. SHARPS believes that Park also worked in the color filter (CF) process and module process and was continuously exposed to carcinogens such as photosensitizers, organic solvents, and other unidentified ingredients.
"Park worked right next to the oven to bake the photosensitizer, and every time the oven opened, there was a disgusting burning smell but there was no proper action to block exposure," SHARPS said. "There was also a risk of radiation exposure through an X-ray electrostatic removal device that is highly associated with breast cancer," SHARPS added.
Due to the 24-hour operation characteristics of LCD manufacturing lines, night shifts are frequent. Park is also known to have worked two or three rotating shifts including night work for 11 years. Night shift is pointed out as one of the factors that disrupt biorhythm and reduce immunity, causing cancer. In 2019, the International Agency for Research on Cancer under the World Health Organization (WHO) designated night work as a probable carcinogen (2A group). It has been consistently pointed out that hormonal disturbance caused by night work affects the development of breast cancer, uterine cancer, and ovarian cancer.
Park was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2016, 13 years after joining the company. She was 32 years old at the time. There was no family history of breast cancer. Park resigned in June 2021 as her cancer continued to worsen.
In 2021, Park asked SHARPS for advice on applying for workers’ compensation for occupational cancer. While preparing to apply for workers’ compensation, she continued to receive chemotherapy. Due to side effects, there was a heart problem, so she stopped chemotherapy for a while and then started again.
Park died on December 31st last year, just before applying for workers’ compensation. Lee Jong-ran, a certified labor attorney who worked with Park on the preparation of her workers’ compensation application, said in a telephone interview with Kyunghyang Shinmun, "I prepared all the industrial accident application documents and left only Park’s review, but I could not reach her. I called recently and her husband answered the phone and said that Park died." Lee added that Park's husband had been too busy to notify her about Park's death. Park has a son in the lower grades of elementary school. Park's death made it impossible for her to apply for workers’ compensation. However, if the bereaved family wants, there is a way to receive compensation by applying for survivor's benefits.
SHARPS pointed out that workers' safety protection measures for semiconductor and display-related processes are poor. "The health impact of night shifts is serious, but no measures have been taken," SHARPS said. "We are not even guaranteed the proper right to know about chemicals that workers can be exposed to on the site."
Some pointed out that the safety of women vulnerable to hormonal diseases is seriously threatened. Even before Park died, Samsung Display reported that A (39) died of breast cancer in September 2021, B (38) died of cervical cancer in October last year, and C (57) died of ovarian cancer on December 19th.
“Behind the reality of female workers constantly sick and dying in high-tech industries, there are companies that put profits ahead of workers' health,” SHARPS said. "We are angry at the current government for easing regulations on working hours and chemicals to drive more workers to disease and death."
Samsung Display said, "There is no specific comment."