Korean Job Discussion Forums

[contrarian]

I have been trying to help a woman who seems to have gotten Carbon Monoxide poisoning from the LPG heaters in her Hagwon.

She has taken enough time off that she was given notice by her Hagwon yesterday, that she is to be terminated effective May 31.

She has missed a few classes, but claims that she has short term memory problems from the poisoning.

Questions:

1. Does Korea have anyhting like US/Canadian Workers Compensation.

2. I have read the industrial health laws and they have fines for employers who breach their duty. Article 24 for example.

3. I am having a little problem getting on EFL Law any pointers?

4. The lady is a bit hard to deal with, older and alone and very noisily confrontational (hispanic at the risk of being called a racist), but I am in sympathy with her problem.

5. Anything else anyone might suggest?

[Yu_Bum_suk]

When did this happen? I can't anyone using heaters within the past two weeks, especially if it's in the late afternoon / early evening.

[contrarian]

This has been going on sice January. Thanks for the flame.

[ED209]

[contrarian]

I didn't read yu_bum's post very well. Sometimes I only open my mouth to change feet. Mi an hamnida!

There are some medical reports, which show definate lung damage. She has symptoms, but how mich of the total is emotional overlay is the question. I will need luck and EFL Law might be a good place, if I can get on. She has some Korean help as well, not fellow employees.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[oneofthesarahs]

If she got carbon monoxide poisoning AT her hagwon, concievably her coworkers would have it also. And being that the onset symptoms are headaches, dizziness, and nausea, I doubt that all of her coworkers would somehow be able to totally mask the symptoms. And from what I know about CM poisoning, it really doesn't affect your lungs so much as your brain and heart.

I really don't want to somehow sound cold-hearted, but is she SURE she has CM poisoning? It sounds like some other health issues are at play. A doctor should be able to figure out fairly definitively if she has it or not by a blood test.

[spliff]

where's the proof? Does she have a doctor?

[Young FRANKenstein]

[sconner]

Where did she work? PM me. At the job I left in February we had the same problem. Everyone felt sick from the gas fumes, but it was worse for the teachers because we were breathing it in all day. The students complained about the smell so for the most part we only used the heaters when it was bitterly cold and the teachers and the students would just bundle up during class.

[contrarian]

She has medical reports and has had an arterial blood scan. She is gatherig them together. She is a little luckier than some in that she has some support from the powers that be of the Korean church she attends (Mromon).

I am hoping to get some legal advice on this (I was a lawyer in a "previous life") I don't pretend to understand the Korean system.

[cosmo]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[contrarian]

Yo_bum:

I have apologized for my hasty response.



Here's a quck run down of recent events. The medical reports, as close as I can figure as a layman are pretty bad.

She has however against my advice, posted specific comments naming the Hogwan and the boss I don't think on any Web sites yet. She copied what she did send the hogwan owner. I'm afraid all of the emotional stress she is under have had some effect.

I am still strying to find a lawyer. There is an ad in the Korea Herald so I guess I'll have to cough up my own money for now.

[poet13]

"I am still strying to find a lawyer. There is an ad in the Korea Herald so I guess I'll have to cough up my own money for now."

I guess I'm confused about your relationship. Why would YOU be coughing up money for HER medical problem?