[Alpha Biz=(Chicago) Reporter Kim Jisun] In June this year, Costco was fined for belatedly reporting the accident in connection with the fall and death of an employee in his 20s working at Costco, a large warehouse-type supermarket.

The Gyeonggi branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor said on the 12th that it has imposed a fine of 30 million won on Costco Corporation for violating the Industrial Safety and Health Act.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to report the fact directly to the Ministry of Labor in the event of a serious accident.

However, Costco violated the regulations by reporting the accident on June 19, a day later, on the 20th.

In addition, Costco was fined up to 5 million won after it was found that it did not provide safety and health education when the dead employee's work changed from cashier to parking lot work.

The deceased employee suddenly collapsed at 7 p.m. on June 19 while working on cart and parking management at Costco's Hanam branch parking lot. He was taken to a nearby hospital after CPR, but died at 9:18 p.m., about two hours later.

The bereaved families and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' Service Federation's Mart Industry Workers' Union applied for an industrial accident with the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service on Aug. 22, saying the employee died due to excessive work in the heat wave.

Aside from the imposition of fines, the Ministry of Labor is investigating whether the accident has any violations of laws, including the Serious Disaster Punishment Act.

 

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