Taiwan

Taiwan-funded companies cautioned on production safety

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-25 13:56

BEIJING - Chinese mainland spokeswoman Fan Liqing on Wednesday urged all Taiwan-funded companies to draw lessons from Friday's Foxconn blast, which killed three, and ensure production safety.

Fan, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a news briefing in Beijing that Foxconn and other Taiwan-funded companies should strengthen internal monitoring and management efforts and make timely precautions and investigate potential dangers.

Fan's remarks came after the blast occurred about 7 pm Friday at a workshop in Hongfujin Precision Electronics (Chengdu) Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Taiwan-based Foxconn Technology Group, located in the provincial capital of Chengdu in Sichuan Province.

Two people were found dead and 16 others injured on Friday. The death toll rose to three after one seriously injured worker died in the hospital Sunday.

An initial investigation indicates that the explosion could have been caused by combustible dust in the polishing workshop. Investigators ruled out the possibility of deliberate sabotage, according to earlier reports.

"It has been initially recognized as a production safety accident," Fan said.

She confirmed that the operations in the polishing workshop, as well as other plant sections with similar manufacturing processes, have been suspended for further investigation and safety checks.

According to Fan, Foxconn has expressed willingness to make full efforts in solving any safety issues.

Foxconn, the world's largest electronics contractor, opened the $2 billion Chengdu plant in October last year to manufacture primarily components of laptop computers and iPads.