Three contract workers died on Monday at a Tata Electronics factory in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, which manufactures components for the iPhone.
The workers were performing maintenance at a wastewater treatment plant at the Tata facility when they inhaled gas while inspecting a nano-filtration tank. The wastewater plant was operated by Nalco Water, and the workers were employed by a subcontractor.
Apple, Tata Electronics and state officials will look into the incident, and Apple has sent a “team” to assist in the investigation. The incident did not affect iPhone production because the facility was closed for Diwali.
Tata Electronics investigation and production impact
Apple, Tata Electronics and local authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances of the gas exposure and the deaths. Nalco Water operated the wastewater treatment plant where the maintenance was taking place, while the deceased workers were employed by a subcontractor. Company and state inquiries are underway, with Apple providing a “team” to assist.
The fatalities did not interrupt iPhone output because the plant was not in operation at the time due to Diwali closures.
Past incidents at the facility
The same Tata Electronics facility experienced a fire in 2024 in a chemical storage area that disrupted production for several days. Earlier this year the company was also the target of a cyberattack in which hackers stole confidential Apple files.
