Three contract workers died late on Monday after allegedly inhaling toxic gas at Tata Electronics' iPhone manufacturing facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.
The men were cleaning a nano-filtration feed tank at the plant's effluent treatment plant. The unit is operated by Nalco Water, a subsidiary of US-based Ecolab. Nalco Water said the workers were engaged by one of its sub-contractors. In a statement, it said it was "deeply saddened" and was working with local authorities on the investigation. It added that the incident occurred in a utility facility it operates.
One worker reportedly fainted after looking into the tank and inhaling gas. Two others went in to check on him and collapsed from asphyxiation. All three were declared dead on arrival at hospital. Officials said proper safety measures were not in place while the effluent treatment plant was being handled. Police said the final cause of death will be established after post-mortem examinations.
Apple, Tata Electronics and local authorities are expected to examine the deaths, and an Apple team is expected to visit the plant. A joint team from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health will also investigate.
The Hosur site, part of Apple's India iPhone supply chain, has faced several problems. A major fire nearly two years ago injured eleven people and halted production. In June, the pollution control board warned of closure over alleged wastewater contamination of wells on adjoining farmland. Tata Electronics said an independent analysis showed compliance with norms and that the board dropped further action after its queries were answered. Also in June, a ransomware group posted more than 2 lakh files, including supplier information, taken from the plant.
