Research & Development World

  • R&D World Home
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Careers
    • Chemistry
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Software
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
    • Semiconductors
  • R&D Market Pulse
  • R&D 100
    • Call for Nominations: The 2025 R&D 100 Awards
    • R&D 100 Awards Event
    • R&D 100 Submissions
    • Winner Archive
    • Explore the 2024 R&D 100 award winners and finalists
  • Resources
    • Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • R&D Index
    • Subscribe
    • Video
    • Webinars
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Top Labs
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

Report: Samsung Withheld Deadly Chemical Info from Ill Employees

By MaryBeth DiDonna | August 10, 2016

The Associated Press has reported that South Korean authorities were asked by electronics and semiconductor company Samsung to withhold critical information from workers and their families, after allegations that factory workers were exposed to deadly chemicals at the company’s computer chip and liquid crystal display factories.

There are over 200 current or former Samsung workers who have suffered from serious illnesses, mostly cancer or leukemia — 76 of these people have since died. Most employees involved in this initiative are in their 20s or 30s.

Read more: Samsung Opens Semiconductor Facilities to Inspection

Ill employees are supposed to be able to access data about these chemicals through the government or the courts, in order to provide proof when they apply for workers’ compensation from the state. Without this information, it’s next to impossible for people to get workers’ comp. However, court documents show that Samsung denied workers this information, alleging that doing so would expose trade secrets.

An attorney representing 15 ill Samsung employees says that his clients have not been able to get access to full reports on facility inspections — they are made by third parties to comply with South Korean law, but Samsung retains property of them. Court rulings only contain some excerpts of independent inspections.

South Korea law bans governments and public agencies from keeping corporate information secret, even out of fear of exposing trade secrets, if it is necessary “to protect the lives, physical safety, and health” of individuals. However, there aren’t any penalties for violations.

In a statement issued to the Associated Press, Samsung says it never “intentionally” blocked workers from accessing information, and that the company is transparent about all chemicals it is required to disclose.

A January 2016 post on Samsung’s website says that “of course” it is safe to work in the company’s semiconductor facilities, adding that, “We meet industry environment, health and safety (EHS) standards across all of our semiconductor fabrication plants, and our on-going ambition is to invest in finding better standards for ourselves and the industry. We have innovated many of the processes and controls that are now standard in the industry and continue to look for further enhancements.”

Related Articles Read More >

Stargate’s $500B bet could force data-center and 1.2 GW grid rethink
Compact AI model lets popular ESP32 microcontroller predict network failures and memory leaks in real time
TSMC’s N3P hits mass production, with N3X customer sampling slated for Q3–Q4 2025a
7 major R&D developments this week: Tariff uncertainty persists, Pfizer sells campus, Scania acquires Northvolt unit
rd newsletter
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, trends, and strategies in Research & Development.
RD 25 Power Index

R&D World Digital Issues

Fall 2024 issue

Browse the most current issue of R&D World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading R&D magazine today.

Research & Development World
  • Subscribe to R&D World Magazine
  • Enews Sign Up
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • Global Funding Forecast

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search R&D World

  • R&D World Home
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Careers
    • Chemistry
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Software
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
    • Semiconductors
  • R&D Market Pulse
  • R&D 100
    • Call for Nominations: The 2025 R&D 100 Awards
    • R&D 100 Awards Event
    • R&D 100 Submissions
    • Winner Archive
    • Explore the 2024 R&D 100 award winners and finalists
  • Resources
    • Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • R&D Index
    • Subscribe
    • Video
    • Webinars
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Top Labs
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE