To safeguard the occupational safety of foreign workers, South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor (MoEL) announced the release of multilingual Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) training materials in 17 languages. Effective immediately, businesses are mandated to use these resources to conduct compulsory safety training for foreign employees handling chemicals.
Under Article 114 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employers using chemicals regulated by MSDS are required to conduct professional training for their employees. The newly published materials specifically target foreign laborers in South Korea, covering languages from major labor-exporting countries: Filipino, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, Burmese, Nepali, Vietnamese, Mongolian, Khmer, Tetum (East Timor), Laotian, Bengali, Sinhala (Sri Lanka), Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Urdu (Pakistan), and Tajik. The guidelines utilize visual symbols and simplified explanations to systematically outline critical safety information, including chemical toxicity, corrosiveness, flammability, and explosion risks. They also provide step-by-step guidance on proper protective measures and emergency response protocols, ensuring all workers receive accurate instructions for safe chemical handling.
MoEL urges all relevant businesses to actively adopt these materials to enhance workplace safety standards and protect foreign workers from potential chemical hazards. Through this initiative, the ministry aims to advance comprehensive safety and health in South Korea’s working environments.
