Labor ministry warns of summer dichloromethane poisoning risk

The labor ministry on Monday warned workplaces handling dichloromethane to guard against acute poisoning during summer heat, when hot, humid conditions make the chemical more volatile and concentrated vapor can build up in poorly ventilated indoor or underground work areas.

Dichloromethane is used in metal cleaning agents, waterproofing agents and paint removers.

In 2025, a worker died of acute poisoning while working at a dichloromethane cleaning tank. The prior year, one worker died and two were injured during waterproofing work in an underground mechanical room.

At small workplaces, the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency provides occupational-health consulting and supports assessments of ventilation equipment performance.

"During the summer, dichloromethane's volatility raises the risk of acute poisoning, so workplaces should recognize the risk of such accidents and strictly comply with safety rules through pre-work safety inspection meetings," Kim Hyun-joong, president of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, said.

The agency also provides its chemical-exposure information alert service free through the Industrial Safety Portal.