On June 26, 2025, South Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) announced the details of 51 newly manufactured or imported chemical substances through Announcement No. 260 of 2025. The information released includes hazard and risk assessments, annual manufacturing or import volumes, and mandatory worker health protection measures.
Under the Industrial Safety and Health Act, any company planning to manufacture or import a new chemical substance must submit a hazard and risk assessment report to the MOEL at least 30 days before the planned start date. Submissions can be made online via the Labor Portal website (labor.moel.go.kr) or mailed to the Chemical Accident Prevention Division.
Among the 51 newly announced substances, 25 were confirmed to pose significant health risks, primarily including Methyldichlorosilane and N,N-Dimethylphosphoramidic dichloride. The identified hazards cover acute toxicity, skin corrosion/irritation, and serious eye damage/eye irritation.
The MOEL explicitly mandates that relevant companies implement the following protective measures to safeguard worker health:
- Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Such as protective gloves, goggles, and protective clothing.
- Protective Facilities: Install effective ventilation systems like local exhaust devices.
- Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS): Companies manufacturing or importing hazardous substances must submit an MSDS. This document must contain critical information about the chemical product's composition, hazards, safe handling procedures, and storage methods.
- Information Disclosure and Labeling: The MSDS content must be displayed in the workplace. Clear warning labels containing hazard information and precautionary measures must also be affixed to all containers and packaging of the chemical products.
- Worker Safety Education: Companies are obligated to provide specialized safety education and training to workers handling these chemicals. The training must cover the hazardous properties of the substances and safe operating procedures.
This announcement signifies South Korea's ongoing efforts to strengthen oversight of newly introduced chemical substances. The measures aim to identify risks at the source and compel companies to implement workplace protection requirements, thereby effectively preventing occupational health incidents. Relevant companies must strictly adhere to the reporting and safety management regulations.
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