Three contract workers died after allegedly inhaling toxic gases during maintenance work at Tata Electronics’ iPhone manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu’s Hosur.

According to Reuters, the incident took place as workers were carrying out cleaning and maintenance work inside a nano-filtration feed tank, which was operated by US-based water treatment company Ecolabs’ subsidiary Nalco Water.

Confirming the development, Nalco Water said that the workers had been employed by one of its sub-contractors. 

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of three workers engaged by a sub-contractor of Nalco Water… This incident occurred in a utility facility, operated by Nalco Water. We are working with the local authorities in the investigation of this incident,” said the company in a statement. 

Sources told the news agency that the deaths, which took place late on Monday, will now be probed by Apple, Tata Electronics and local authorities. Another source reportedly added that an Apple team will visit ​the plant to assist in ​the investigation.

A separate report by Financial Express noted that Tata Electronics will also face an investigation by a joint team of officials from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and the local Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH).

As per The New India Express, one of the workers fainted after looking inside the tank and inhaling gas. The other two workers then entered the tank to check on him and also collapsed subsequently due to asphyxiation. 

All three workers were declared dead on arrival at the hospital, the report added.

Source link