Four Workers Fall at TSMC Kaohsiung Site as Related Work Stops

Table of Contents

• You might want to know
• Main Topic
• Key Insights Table
• Afterwards...

You might want to know

• What happened during the steel-structure work at TSMC’s Kaohsiung site?
• What steps have been taken while authorities investigate the accident?

Main Topic

A serious workplace accident occurred at the F22 P4 construction project at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (台積電, TSMC, 2330-TW) in Kaohsiung on the evening of the 20th. Four workers employed by contractors fell at the site and were taken to hospital. Among them, two were reported to have suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) before reaching the hospital. The incident took place during steel-structure construction work, and the affected project work has been voluntarily suspended while the circumstances are investigated.

TSMC said that an accident occurred during steel-structure operations at its Kaohsiung site. Emergency personnel at the facility provided first aid at the scene as soon as the incident took place. The four construction workers were then transported by ambulance for medical treatment, and the relevant authorities were notified. The company stated that the area involved is within a contractor’s scope of work, and that the associated work has been stopped voluntarily.

The company’s site safety team is cooperating with the relevant agencies as they examine what happened. TSMC also said it is urging and assisting subcontractors in handling follow-up matters. The inquiry is intended to establish the circumstances that led to the fall and to clarify the chain of events during the construction activity. The company has not stated a definitive cause, and the investigation remains ongoing.

The Southern Taiwan Science Park Bureau (南科管理局) provided a preliminary account of the incident. It said that, based on its initial understanding, a crane was carrying out lifting and installation work involving steel structures when a bolt broke. The break was followed by the fall of the four contractor workers. This information is preliminary; the detailed cause and the precise sequence of events have yet to be determined through the ongoing investigation.

The Bureau reported that the initial medical assessment classified two workers as having experienced OHCA before arriving at the hospital, one as seriously injured, and one as lightly injured. Fire department personnel assisted in rescuing the workers and transporting them to hospital. The source information does not provide further medical updates, identities, or additional details about the workers’ conditions, so their subsequent status cannot be confirmed from the information available.

Labor inspection personnel have gone to the site and are continuing to monitor how the incident is being handled. The authorities have directed that work at the scene stop and that the accident site not be moved or altered. Preserving the site can help inspectors examine the conditions and evidence related to the accident, including the equipment, the steel-structure operation, and the circumstances surrounding the reported bolt failure.

The Bureau said it has also begun providing assistance and expressing concern to the injured workers’ families. At the same time, it is reviewing whether relevant businesses or employers may have violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act. If violations are identified, the responsible parties may face work suspension and fines in accordance with applicable rules. The Bureau has not announced a final determination or specified any penalties at this stage.

At present, the confirmed response includes emergency medical assistance, notification of the authorities, suspension of the related work, and an investigation involving the site safety team and labor inspectors. The central facts reported so far are that four contractor workers fell during steel-structure work, two were reported as OHCA before reaching the hospital, and the affected work has been halted. The reported bolt break is part of the preliminary account, rather than a final finding about the full cause of the accident.

The investigation will need to establish how the lifting and installation operation was being conducted, what caused the bolt to break, and whether worksite safety requirements were followed. These matters remain subject to examination by the relevant agencies. Until the authorities complete their review, conclusions about responsibility or the precise cause would be premature. The site’s preservation and the suspension of work provide the conditions for inspectors to assess the incident before activities resume.

TSMC has said that it will cooperate with the agencies investigating the accident and assist subcontractors with follow-up arrangements. The Bureau, meanwhile, is monitoring the case, supporting the affected families, and considering possible occupational safety violations. Together, these steps address immediate response and investigation, while leaving the final account of the accident to be established by the authorities.

Key Insights Table

Afterwards...

The next steps are to determine the accident’s cause, establish the relevant facts at the scene, and assess whether workplace safety requirements were breached. The affected work is to remain suspended while authorities investigate, and the accident site is not to be moved. Updates on the workers’ conditions, the investigation’s findings, and any enforcement decisions will depend on information released by the relevant agencies and the company.

The incident also highlights the importance of careful oversight during crane operations and steel-structure installation, particularly when contractors and subcontractors are working within a large construction project. Any broader conclusions should await the investigation. For now, the immediate priorities are supporting the injured workers and their families, preserving evidence, and clarifying what happened before decisions are made about corrective action or a return to work.