In what seems to be an increasing number of problems at display manufacturers recently, a gas leak at LG Display’s (LPL) P8 LCD fab in Paju injured 6 workers, two of which suffered heart attacks and were revived. The gas leak happened when workers were reconnecting piping which carries TMAH (tetramethylammonium hydroxide), a highly caustic chemical used as photoresist stripper during photolithography processes when producing thin-film display backplanes, and as a silicon etchant. Because TMAH is similar to certain neurotransmitters, exposure can cause muscular paralysis, a likely cause for the worker’s heart attacks, and as a very strong base, can cause severe burns.
As panel producers are facing strong demand, fab utilization rates are high, and more routine system maintenance can be rushed or put on hold as managers struggle to meet orders. When utilization rates are lower, there is usually ample time to take down systems and perform cleaning and repair functions as they have little or no effect on production, but as utilization rates climb, it becomes increasingly costly to shut down lines, and workers tend to be rushed, which increases the safety risk. The LG Paju complex is over 1m2 is production area and includes a number of fabs including Gen 8 and Ge 7 lines and has faced other accidents in 2015 and 2017, the former shutting down significant production for what we believe was two weeks, and the latter causing two fatalities. While these plants are massive and have a large number of potentially caustic chemicals, on a more realistic basis, there are many other industries that have more serious safety issues
As panel producers are facing strong demand, fab utilization rates are high, and more routine system maintenance can be rushed or put on hold as managers struggle to meet orders. When utilization rates are lower, there is usually ample time to take down systems and perform cleaning and repair functions as they have little or no effect on production, but as utilization rates climb, it becomes increasingly costly to shut down lines, and workers tend to be rushed, which increases the safety risk. The LG Paju complex is over 1m2 is production area and includes a number of fabs including Gen 8 and Ge 7 lines and has faced other accidents in 2015 and 2017, the former shutting down significant production for what we believe was two weeks, and the latter causing two fatalities. While these plants are massive and have a large number of potentially caustic chemicals, on a more realistic basis, there are many other industries that have more serious safety issues
LG Display Paju Fab Complex - Source: LG Display
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