Samsung sets aside $86M for compensation & prevention in wake of 70 cancer deaths, 200 illnesses

Samsung says that it is setting aside 100B won ($85.8M) for compensation and prevention measures after some 200 of its employees contracted cancer through contact with dangerous substances. Samsung last year issued a “deep apology” for what was then believed to be 56 cases.

Reuters reports that illnesses such as lymphoma and leukemia resulted from prolonged exposure to either radiation or dangerous chemicals at Samsung’s chip and display factories … 

Samsung said in a statement the fund will make payments to workers or families of those who became sick while working at its plants, including contractors. The fund would also pay for research, development of experts and other methods to improve worker safety.

Samsung’s 2014 Sustainability Report revealed that 59 of Samsung’s sites lacked adequate safety equipment and monitoring, and half of them had workers under 18 years of age handling dangerous chemicals.