Hanwha Group’s new chemical affiliate Hanwha Total Petrochemicals is mired in safety controversies less than a month after being rebranded from Samsung.

The Labor Ministry said Tuesday it lacked appropriate safety measures and “fell short of legal standards” at its factory in Daesan, South Chungcheong Province.

The company is under surveillance after a construction worker died from a fall at the site on May 19.

The ministry said it would decide whether to press charges within this month after the final result of the investigation comes out.

Local reports said the incident fueled an already tense atmosphere among the Hanwha Total workers, who have been protesting against the company’s acquisition and compensation amount.

Hanwha Group, the nation’s 10th-largest conglomerate whose business ranges from energy to finance, completed the acquisition of two Samsung affiliates in April to consolidate its petrochemical businesses.

The companies, which include Hanwha General Chemicals, are expected to help the group become the nation’s fifth-largest refiner amid fierce competition in the domestic market.

By Suk Gee-hyun (monicasuk@heraldcorp.com)