TAIPEI, Taiwan –
Taiwan authorities fined a golf ball producer 2.4 million New Taiwan {dollars} ($75,000) on Monday and warned of prison costs for storing 30 instances the authorized restrict of hazardous materials and different violations after a serious manufacturing facility hearth killed 9 individuals and left one different lacking.
The mayor of Pingtung county mentioned at a information convention that Launch Applied sciences Co. had 3,000 tons of natural peroxides on web site, excess of the 100 tons of hazardous materials that’s permitted, Taiwan’s Central Information Company reported.
These accountable can be held accountable for public endangerment and negligent manslaughter, Mayor Chou Chun-mi mentioned.
Firm officers couldn’t be reached for remark.
It is unclear what triggered the hearth on Friday, however two explosions within the already burning constructing trapped firefighters and staff below rubble. 4 firefighters have been among the many 9 who died. Greater than 100 different individuals have been injured.
Natural peroxides, that are extremely flammable, are utilized in a wide range of rubber merchandise together with golf ball cores. Launch Applied sciences is likely one of the world’s main golf ball makers, producing 20 per cent of the worldwide provide final 12 months.
Taiwanese legislation requires natural peroxides to be saved in a separate warehouse constructing, however Launch Applied sciences stored the fabric on the primary ground of the manufacturing facility constructing, Chou mentioned.
Bigger fines have been assessed for failing to designate some extent particular person to assist battle the hearth and failing to offer a whole stock of the natural peroxides on web site when firefighters arrived, she mentioned.
Launch Applied sciences, which was based in 2006, has been fined earlier than.
Since 2018, the corporate has been fined 200,000 New Taiwan {dollars} ($6,200) for security and well being violations and one other 300,000 New Taiwan {dollars} ($9,300) over labor circumstances, based on Taiwan’s Occupational Security and Well being Administration.
The corporate was additionally fined 300,000 New Taiwan {dollars} ($9,300) for air air pollution violations in 2020, based on its 2021 annual report.
In 2011, a court docket ordered Launch Applied sciences to pay compensation to 5 staff who had sued the corporate for working extra time past the authorized restrict and in polluted circumstances dangerous to their well being.
Firm normal supervisor Lu Ying-cheng mentioned at a information convention on Sunday that Launch Applied sciences has made enhancements to the work atmosphere lately.
“The tempo of enchancment has not been quick sufficient, and we’ll proceed to overview and enhance the scenario in accordance with laws,” Lu mentioned, based on an announcement posted on the Taiwan Inventory Alternate web site.
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Related Press researcher Wanqing Chen in Beijing contributed to this report.