Three contract workers died after inhaling toxic gas while cleaning a tank at a wastewater treatment facility on a Tata Electronics site in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu on the evening of Nov. 9.
The plant, in Krishnagiri district, makes iPhone components for Apple, and the Indian authorities have opened an investigation into the incident.
One worker collapsed after looking inside the tank, and two others who went in to check on him collapsed in turn, according to reports. A fourth worker witnessed the scene and raised the alarm. All three were taken to a private hospital in Hosur but were pronounced dead.
Police said the plant had used a chemical powder to suppress the smell of the wastewater, and that the substance might have produced toxic gas inside the tank. Officers are still investigating whether the cleaning operation was carried out without adequate safety precautions, and the exact cause of death is pending post-mortem reports.
Tata Electronics accounts for about 40% of the iPhones made in India. India has become Apple's second-largest manufacturing base, producing about 25% of global iPhone output. The accident has once again drawn scrutiny to safety standards at the Indian plants that build iPhones for the company.
Related News:
Apple admits iPhone Duo screen cracking issue: Free replacements offered
Comment