Tata Electronics directed to submit detailed Action Taken Report after deaths of three workers at treatment plant

Chennai: Apple supplier Tata Electronics has been instructed to undertake a comprehensive review of the performance and safety compliance of the agencies entrusted with maintaining the Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), Krishnagiri district collector C Dinesh Kumar told ET.

“The company has also been directed to submit a detailed Action Taken Report (ATR) covering the circumstances leading to the accident, lapses identified, corrective measures undertaken and a clear preventive action plan to ensure that such incidents do not recur,” he said, while adding that the district administration was closely monitoring the situation and would ensure that the ‘necessary safety measures’ are implemented before the ETP resumes operations.

Also Read: Apple to probe deaths of three workers at Tata’s iPhone parts factory

Queries sent to Tata Electronics and Apple remained unanswered.

The action follows the death of three contract workers allegedly due to asphyxiation at the plant on Monday evening. Kumar said officials from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) are conducting a detailed safety inspection.

“The inspection will particularly examine the safety procedures followed during maintenance activities, including confined-space entry, gas monitoring, protective equipment and emergency rescue arrangements,” he said.
He said there is no proposal to shut down the entire Tata Electronics plant at present. However, he said the ETP will be permitted to resume operations only after the concerned authorities verify compliance with the required safety measures and provide the necessary clearance.Explaining the chain of events that occured, Kumar said that the maintenance of the ETP at Tata Electronics had been entrusted to NALCO Water International, which had engaged four workers through another agency, Permacorp, for maintenance activities.

“On Monday, the four workers were assigned to clean the exterior of the nanofiltration tank at the ETP. During the cleaning process, one of the workers reportedly looked inside the tank and noticed sludge accumulated at the bottom. He is suspected to have inhaled toxic gases, lost consciousness and fallen inside the tank,” he said.

Also Read: Three workers die at Tata’s Apple iPhone components factory in Tamil Nadu: Report

The supervisor, Kaveri, subsequently directed another worker, an electrician, to enter the tank to rescue him. Unfortunately, Kumar said, the electrician also lost consciousness and fell inside.

“The supervisor also entered the tank and reportedly suffered a similar fate. Meanwhile, the fourth worker rushed to seek assistance. Tragically, three workers lost their lives in the incident,” he said.

Tamil Nadu industries minister S Keerthana expressed her condolences to the families of the workers who lost their lives. She said she has spoken to the district administration and directed them to extend all necessary support to the affected families and ensure that the situation is addressed with ‘utmost urgency.’

“The safety and dignity of every worker must remain paramount,” she said in a post on X. “This tragic incident will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings. We must ensure that every necessary measure is put in place to prevent such tragedies from recurring.”