Pegatron blast may be linked to aluminum dust from iPads
updated 02:35 pm EST, Tue December 20, 2011
Similarities drawn to Foxconn incident
A December 17th explosion at a Pegatron-owned planet in Shanghai was connected to aluminum dust generated while polishing iPad shells, says a group called China Labor Watch. Aluminum dust is known to highly combustible, and CLW suggests that the blast on the 17th was similar to an accident at a Foxconn plant in May, which the company blamed on "combustible dust."
Authorities from the Songjiang area of Shanghai have reportedly started investigating the December 17th incident, more directly linked to Pegatron subsidiary Ri Teng Computer Accessory. 61 people were injured in the explosion, of which some had to be hospitalized. By comparison, three people were killed and 15 injured during the Foxconn disaster.
An Apple spokeswoman, Carolyn Wu, today issued a short statement. "We are working closely with Pegatron to understand the cause of this accident," she told Bloomberg by phone. "Our hearts go out to the people who were hurt in Songjiang."
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2000
better methods
This is terribly sad. They should look at better methods. Wet polish the suckers to avoid dust generation. Maybe they could ask the automobile wheel industry what they do... they've been polishing aluminum wheels for decades, I'm sure they have a safe process in place.