[Unofficial Korean-to-English translation provided by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

"Otis Elevator subcontract worker dies again after the earlier death of a worker in their 20s," 26 October 2023

At Otis Elevator, where a worker in their 20s fell to their death in June, another subcontracted worker died in September after being hit by a falling rope while working.

[...] A subcontracted worker of Otis Elevator fell after being hit by a falling rope while replacing parts inside an elevator at a building in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, at 12:52 p.m. last month. The worker died on September 14, four days after being taken to the hospital.

Earlier, in June, a worker in his 20s working for Otis Elevator died after falling about 20 meters to the ground while repairing an elevator in an apartment building in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. At the time of the accident, it was pointed out that the company did not comply with a Ministry of the Interior and Safety notice requiring "two-person operation" when inspecting elevators. [...]

There have been repeated industrial accidents at Otis Elevator. According to the number of cases recorded as industrial accidents by the Korea Worker's Compensation & Welfare Service, there were four in 2020, four in 2021, four in 2022, and three as of the end of June 2023.

In particular, there are allegations that the supervisor with Otis Elevator at the construction site where the accident occurred was not trained on the risks of the relevant construction method.

[...] The Ministry of Employment and Labor is investigating whether the incident violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act or the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.