Current Status of Workplace Accidents in the Pharmaceutical and Bio Industries

The current state of workplace accidents in the pharmaceutical and bio industries has recently come under scrutiny. According to a survey of 25 major pharmaceutical and bio companies, a total of 117 workplace accidents were recognized over the past five years. These statistics, based on data from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, show that entanglement/crushing and falls were the most frequent types of accidents. Notably, cases of death due to work-related mental illness have also been confirmed, adding to the severity of the issue.

Analysis by Type of Workplace Accident

Looking at the number of approved workers' compensation claims, entanglement/crushing accidents accounted for the highest number at 24 cases, followed by falls with 20 cases, physical strain/back pain with 17 cases, and being struck by or colliding with objects with 13 cases. These accidents typically occur in the following situations:

• Entanglement/Crushing: When a body part gets caught in rotating machinery or between machinery/equipment.
• Falls: Slipping on stairs or floors, or tripping over protrusions.

Status of Mental Illness and Traffic Accidents

Among work-related illnesses, mental illness accounted for the largest number of cases, with 5 cases approved across 4 companies. Of these, 3 were classified as illness cases and 2 as death cases. Furthermore, 9 cases related to traffic accidents were recognized as workplace accidents, with 1 case confirmed as a fatality. These statistics seriously highlight the safety issues within the pharmaceutical and bio industries.

Industrial Safety Supervision and Follow-up Measures

Additionally, the Ministry of Employment and Labor has confirmed numerous instances of follow-up measures such as corrective actions and fines related to workplace accidents. From 2021 to the second quarter of this year, a total of 96 sites were supervised and inspected. As a result, corrective actions were issued to 55 sites, and fines were imposed on 20 sites. Notably, HK Inno.N recorded the highest number of corrective actions with 7 sites, and also had 2 sites subjected to fines.

This data underscores the need for pharmaceutical and bio companies to be acutely aware of industrial safety. To prevent workplace accidents, more thorough safety management and improvements to the working environment are essential. Various efforts must continue to address these issues moving forward.