Two workers killed at LG’s screen factory in South Korea

At least two workers have died at LG’s display factory in South Korea following a nitrogen leak. One of the workers died at the scene and the other died on the way to hospital. At least five more staff and contractors have been injured and one is in a critical condition. The leak happened in the early hours of Monday morning at the firm’s factory in Paju, north of the capital Seoul.

We send our most heartfelt condolences and apologies to the deceased and will do everything in our power to help the injured recover as quickly as possible.

LG statement

The workers involved were renovating the ninth floor of the factory, which makes liquid crystal display (LCD) screens for a number of household products including television sets. Nitrogen makes up 80% of the Earth’s atmosphere but can cause asphyxiation when inhaled in its purer form. It is colourless and odourless, making it difficult to detect. According to fire crews, one of the workers may have inadvertently opened a nitrogen valve in the factory.

Asia-Pacific LG factory