TSMC Kaohsiung Plant Suspends Work After Accident Injures Four Workers

Construction work at TSMC’s site in the Nanzih Industrial Park in Kaohsiung was interrupted by a workplace safety incident in the late afternoon, resulting in injuries to several on-site workers who were rushed to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment. The sudden event has drawn significant public attention, particularly as TSMC has been aggressively advancing the construction of advanced process fabs across the country, with multiple sites under simultaneous development. Construction safety and labor rights have consistently been focal points of scrutiny for regulatory authorities and the general public. In response to the incident, TSMC issued an immediate statement, clarifying that the affected site falls within the scope of a subcontracted project. To conduct a comprehensive review of safety conditions, the company has voluntarily suspended all related construction activities in the area. TSMC’s on-site safety teams have fully deployed to the location to actively cooperate with relevant authorities in investigating the precise causes of the accident.

The accident occurred during a critical period just before the end of the workday. According to current information, four construction workers were injured while performing their duties. Following the incident, on-site personnel immediately notified emergency medical services, and the injured workers were transported to nearby hospitals for urgent care. The construction of high-tech fabs typically involves extensive heavy electromechanical equipment, high-altitude work, and complex civil engineering, inherently carrying a degree of risk. All four injured individuals were frontline construction workers, and their medical conditions and subsequent care have become a primary concern for their families and the public. The involved medical institutions are providing full-scale treatment to ensure the injured receive the most appropriate medical resources.

In the face of the sudden workplace safety accident, TSMC demonstrated a high level of crisis management, issuing an external explanation and taking concrete actions immediately after the event. TSMC noted that the site where the accident occurred is currently under a subcontracted scope. This means that, in addition to TSMC’s own supervisors and safety management personnel, the site includes construction teams from numerous partner companies and downstream subcontractors. To prevent similar incidents from recurring and to thoroughly examine the subcontractors’ construction safety regulations and execution compliance, TSMC decided to adopt the highest standard of response by voluntarily mandating a full stop-work order for the relevant area. This voluntary suspension is not only to facilitate subsequent investigation procedures but also to demonstrate to the public and all workers the company’s commitment to workplace safety.

Following the announcement of the voluntary work stoppage, TSMC’s on-site safety teams fully dedicated themselves to post-incident management and investigation. In addition to assisting the families of the injured and inspecting on-site protective facilities, these professional safety personnel’s primary task is to cooperate with labor inspection agencies and judicial and police units to deeply investigate the antecedents and consequences of the accident. Whether the incident resulted from mechanical equipment anomalies, procedural oversights, or the level of implementation of on-site safety protective measures, all aspects will be thoroughly examined under the joint investigation by the relevant authorities. Through scientific and objective investigative procedures, the true causes of the accident can be identified, providing valuable warnings and directions for improvement in future project management.

As one of the key production bases for TSMC’s future deployment of advanced processes, the Kaohsiung site has attracted widespread attention since its establishment was announced, with its engineering progress and surrounding effects closely monitored by various sectors. However, the advancement of any major construction project must be built upon the principle of “safety first, life supreme.” The occurrence of this incident has once again sounded the alarm on safety in large-scale tech fab construction projects, reminding all enterprises and subcontractors that the safety protection of the labor environment must never be neglected in the pursuit of construction efficiency and progress. As the relevant authorities conduct in-depth investigations and TSMC carries out a comprehensive review, the public hopes that this will lead to the establishment of more rigorous site safety standards, safeguarding the lives and safety of every frontline worker.

(Source: Central News Agency)