Overview
- The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. Thursday in an outdoor area by the Stainless Steel No. 4 plant during sludge removal by two subcontracted cleaners and a Posco employee.
- Six people were treated after inhaling gas, including three in-house firefighters with non-life-threatening symptoms, and two workers remain unconscious after one regained consciousness overnight.
- Officials initially issued differing accounts of the injured, but authorities now describe the six as subcontracted cleaners, a Posco employee and in-house firefighters.
- Investigators suspect carbon monoxide and are securing CCTV footage, work logs and witness statements, while coordinating a joint forensic examination of the site.
- Access to the area is restricted to personnel with protective gear due to lingering gas, and the case follows a fatal Nov. 5 chemical leak at the same complex that intensified safety scrutiny.