Three workers die at Tata's India iPhone parts factory in latest safety incident

Three contract workers died at a Tata Electronics factory in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, that makes iPhone parts for Apple. The deaths occurred late Monday during maintenance on an effluent treatment plant; workers inhaled gas while inspecting a nano-filtration tank. Apple, Tata, and state authorities will investigate. The facility was closed for Deepavali, so production was unaffected.

Three contract workers have died at a Tata Electronics factory in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, India, that manufactures components for Apple iPhones. The deaths occurred late on Monday during maintenance work on an effluent treatment plant operated by Nalco Water, a subsidiary of US-based Ecolab. District official Dinesh Kumar said the workers inhaled gas while inspecting an external nano-filtration tank. Apple, Tata, and state authorities will investigate the incident. The factory was closed for the Hindu festival of Deepavali, so production was not affected. Tata's electronics unit accounts for roughly 40% of iPhone assembly in India, a key manufacturing hub that now produces about 25% of the world's iPhones. The Hosur site has faced previous setbacks, including a fire in 2024 and warnings over groundwater contamination. Tamil Nadu's industries minister, Virudhai Magal Keerthana, stated on X that the deaths will be thoroughly investigated and appropriate action taken. The article notes that Tata and Apple did not respond to requests for comment.