HWASEONG — Samsung Electronics Co. on Monday held a briefing for local residents where it announced developments in the aftermath of a fatal gas leak and announced plans to beef up safety measures.

The briefing, organized for local accidents, comes roughly two months after up to 10 liters of diluted hydrofluoric acid leaked at the company’s semiconductor plant in Hwaseong, 60 kilometers south of Seoul.

The Jan. 28 accident killed one worker and injured four others, raising safety concerns. Hydrofluoric acid is a colorless acute poison that can damage the lungs and bones and even affect the nervous system.

In the briefing, Samsung Electronics said the company has taken steps to fix most of the areas in its environment safety facilities that were deemed inadequate by the environment ministry and labor ministry.

Samsung Electronics said it plans to conduct detailed safety inspections on plant facilities as well as operate a 24-hour real-time monitoring system at the Hwaseong unit.

The company also announced policies aimed to enhance communications with the local community and promised to expand corporate social activities for residents.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics said four different air pollution tests on the area showed no sign of the toxic gas.

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