Background: Changed "chemicals" to "substances" to sound more encyclopedic.
Okumaya devam et...
← Previous revision | Revision as of 03:34, 5 May 2024 |
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| Samsung first entered the semiconductor fabrication business in 1974 by [[Samsung Electronics|acquiring Korea Semiconductors]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Samsung Electronics|date=2019-03-12|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.ph...=Wikipedia|language=en|access-date=2019-03-20}}</ref> By 1993, Samsung was the world's largest producer of memory chips, and it has retained that title ever since.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics...emiconductor-companies-since-2010/|title=DRAM revenue worldwide manufacturers 2011-2018 {{!}} Statistic|website=Statista|language=en|access-date=2019-03-20}}</ref> | Samsung first entered the semiconductor fabrication business in 1974 by [[Samsung Electronics|acquiring Korea Semiconductors]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Samsung Electronics|date=2019-03-12|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.ph...=Wikipedia|language=en|access-date=2019-03-20}}</ref> By 1993, Samsung was the world's largest producer of memory chips, and it has retained that title ever since.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics...emiconductor-companies-since-2010/|title=DRAM revenue worldwide manufacturers 2011-2018 {{!}} Statistic|website=Statista|language=en|access-date=2019-03-20}}</ref> |
| The semiconductor fabrication process necessitates the use of a variety of chemicals and carcinogenic substances. At various points in the process, workers are required to dip components in chemical baths, utilize X-ray radiation, and engage in various other production techniques that expose them to potentially harmful chemicals.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Kim|first1=Inah|last2=Kim|first2=Hyun J.|last3=Lim|first3=Sin Y.|last4=Kongyoo|first4=Jungok|date=2012|title=Leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in semiconductor industry workers in Korea|journal=International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health|language=en|volume=18|issue=2|pages=147–153|doi=10.1179/1077352512z.00000000019|issn=1077-3525|pmid=22762495|s2cid=6280174}}</ref> | The semiconductor fabrication process necessitates the use of a variety of carcinogenic substances{{which}}. At various points in the process, workers are required to dip components in liquid baths, utilize X-ray radiation, and engage in various other production techniques that expose them to potentially harmful substances.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Kim|first1=Inah|last2=Kim|first2=Hyun J.|last3=Lim|first3=Sin Y.|last4=Kongyoo|first4=Jungok|date=2012|title=Leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in semiconductor industry workers in Korea|journal=International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health|language=en|volume=18|issue=2|pages=147–153|doi=10.1179/1077352512z.00000000019|issn=1077-3525|pmid=22762495|s2cid=6280174}}</ref> |
| In the 1980s and 1990s, the semiconductor industry was subject a variety of criticisms for creating potential health hazards in their fabrication facilities.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Mira|last2=Waitzkin|first2=Howard|date=2012|title=A heroic struggle to understand the risk of cancers among workers in the electronics industry: the case of Samsung|journal=International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health|language=en|volume=18|issue=2|pages=89–91|doi=10.1179/1077352512Z.00000000022|pmid=22762486|issn=1077-3525|doi-access=free}}</ref> A number of Samsung's US-based competitors were found to have statistically greater serious illness incidence rates among their semiconductor workforces, which led to increased monitoring, safety standards, and protection for semiconductor workers in the US and many other countries.<ref name=":0" /> Samsung, however, has historically declined to release the relevant health data and information on the environment in its semiconductor plants. This decision has been facilitated by the South Korean government's regulations protecting trade secrets that have allowed the company to withhold relevant information, such as the types of chemicals used in semiconductor production, despite numerous attempts to have it made public.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/ea1b8280b50b4ad3a9bdcd9def798914|title=2 words keep sick Samsung workers from data: trade secrets|last=Lee|first=Youkyung|date=2016-08-11|website=AP NEWS|access-date=2019-03-20}}</ref> | In the 1980s and 1990s, the semiconductor industry was subject a variety of criticisms for creating potential health hazards in their fabrication facilities.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Mira|last2=Waitzkin|first2=Howard|date=2012|title=A heroic struggle to understand the risk of cancers among workers in the electronics industry: the case of Samsung|journal=International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health|language=en|volume=18|issue=2|pages=89–91|doi=10.1179/1077352512Z.00000000022|pmid=22762486|issn=1077-3525|doi-access=free}}</ref> A number of Samsung's US-based competitors were found to have statistically greater serious illness incidence rates among their semiconductor workforces, which led to increased monitoring, safety standards, and protection for semiconductor workers in the US and many other countries.<ref name=":0" /> Samsung, however, has historically declined to release the relevant health data and information on the environment in its semiconductor plants. This decision has been facilitated by the South Korean government's regulations protecting trade secrets that have allowed the company to withhold relevant information, such as the types of chemicals used in semiconductor production, despite numerous attempts to have it made public.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/ea1b8280b50b4ad3a9bdcd9def798914|title=2 words keep sick Samsung workers from data: trade secrets|last=Lee|first=Youkyung|date=2016-08-11|website=AP NEWS|access-date=2019-03-20}}</ref> |
| Studies and reports released decades after Samsung's entry into semiconductor fabrication showed that the company has a long history of questionable health and safety practices.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Park|first=Seung-Hyun|date=2012|title=Exposure Possibility to By-products during the Processes of Semiconductor Manufacture|journal=J Korean Soc Occup Environ Hyg|volume=22|pages=52–59|doi=10.35371/kjoem.2012.24.1.52}}</ref> It was discovered that Samsung semiconductor workers' exposure to radiation was significantly beyond the acceptable levels recognized by US regulators.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|date=2009|title=Advisor report about risk assessment of Samsung Giheung plant|journal=Seoul: Samsung Semiconductor|pages=5–29}}</ref> Moreover, it was found that Samsung neglected to actually check the chemical composition of substances used in its semiconductor fabrication process, and that the company failed to conduct exposure assessments for 71% of chemicals utilized in production.<ref name=":1" /> Other investigations suggested the company continued to use harmful substances even after stating it would no longer use them. For example, internal documents showed that Samsung was using TCE, a known toxic substance, as recently as 2010 despite the company publicly stating it had not been a part of the fabrication process since 1995.<ref name=":0" /> | Studies and reports released decades after Samsung's entry into semiconductor fabrication showed that the company has a long history of questionable health and safety practices.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Park|first=Seung-Hyun|date=2012|title=Exposure Possibility to By-products during the Processes of Semiconductor Manufacture|journal=J Korean Soc Occup Environ Hyg|volume=22|pages=52–59|doi=10.35371/kjoem.2012.24.1.52}}</ref> It was discovered that Samsung semiconductor workers' exposure to radiation was significantly beyond the acceptable levels recognized by US regulators.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|date=2009|title=Advisor report about risk assessment of Samsung Giheung plant|journal=Seoul: Samsung Semiconductor|pages=5–29}}</ref> Moreover, it was found that Samsung neglected to actually check the chemical composition of substances used in its semiconductor fabrication process, and that the company failed to conduct exposure assessments for 71% of substances utilized in production.<ref name=":1" /> Other investigations suggested the company continued to use harmful substances even after stating it would no longer use them. For example, internal documents showed that Samsung was using [[trichloroethylene|TCE]], a common cleaning solvent, as recently as 2010 despite the company publicly stating it had not been a part of the fabrication process since 1995.<ref name=":0" /> |
| As such, there have been a great deal of cases of serious illness being developed in Samsung's manufacturing workforce over the decades after it first entered the semiconductor market. However, prior to the organization of an opposition movement, no court in South Korea had ordered Samsung to pay compensation for causing illness in any of its workers. | As such, there have been a great deal of cases of serious illness being developed in Samsung's manufacturing workforce over the decades after it first entered the semiconductor market. However, prior to the organization of an opposition movement, no court in South Korea had ordered Samsung to pay compensation for causing illness in any of its workers. |
| == Death of Hwang Yu-mi and beginnings of opposition movement == | == Death of Hwang Yu-mi and beginnings of opposition movement == |
Okumaya devam et...