Head of the Franchisee Association of Paris Baguette Jang In-moon, left, poses with CEO of Paris Croissant Lee Myeong-wook, center, and Chief of Deputy Head of Paris Croissant Union Song Young-soo, while declaring the company's safety management charter at the SPC headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of SPC

By Kim Jae-heun

SPC promised Wednesday to practice workplace safety management with the firm will to adopt changes and share a concrete vision in connection with a fatal accident that occurred due to negligence at its affiliate production facility in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, last October.

After the accident, the company immediately reflected the results of safety inspections conducted by an external professional institution and the Ministry of Employment and Labor while launching a safety management committee composed of independent experts.

It has also been laying the foundation for the company's safety management by establishing special task forces to improve the working environment and innovating corporate culture there, last year.

"Starting with our declaration today, we will do our best to build a safety management system to the global level and establish a culture of respect and consideration for our employees so that the company can be reborn as a 'New SPC,'" SPC Group CEO Hwang Jae-bok said during a "Safety Management Declaration Ceremony" held at the group's headquarters in Yangjae, Seoul, Wednesday.

Based on the safety management committee it launched last November, SPC plans to create three departments that secure industrial safety, improve working conditions and practice corporate social responsibility.

The industrial safety department will actively promote global safety certification to establish a global standard-level safety and health management system while introducing relevant IT systems.

In addition, the company will secure safety management organizations and manpower to conduct joint inspections with the relevant labor union to identify harmful and risk factors in the workplace.

The labor environment improvement division will push for the reorganization of the worker's shift system through the special task force established with the union. The company will further make various efforts to give workers more rest and take care of their health.

SPC vowed to strengthen relief activities for disasters and promote campaign to spread safety culture in the company.

"The company is listening to workers' opinions and truly improving the working environment for employees. We will also work together to create a safer and happier workplace," a labor union official said.