Samsung Electronics has reached a partial agreement on workplace safety with sickened workers and their families, the Associated Press reports.

The South Korean company and Banolim, the main advocacy group for sick workers, signed an agreement Tuesday, Jan 12, to establish an external committee that will enhance safety at Samsung.

Its mandate includes measures such as ensuring Samsung preserves information related to workers' health and conducting spot checks of chemicals used in its manufacturing.

Samsung and Banolim are still deadlocked over other areas, mainly compensation for Samsung workers who became seriously ill allegedly due to exposure to carcinogens at its chip and LCD factories.