Illnesses Linked to iPhone Touchscreen Production Facility

[Michael Essany]

Today the world witnessed that the production of touchscreen technology is not only sensitive and important to our way of life, it is often a particularly dangerous endeavor at the factories that produce them.

Chinese news outlets are reporting at this hour that a worker at Wintek (a Chinese-based production facility of touchscreens) has died resulting from complications related to n-hexane exposure or poisoning. As of this moment, it's markedly difficult to cull any definitive facts from the Chinese news services reporting the death.

Wintek makes touchscreen displays for Apple devices, like the iPhone and iPod Touch. As it is understood at this time, the touchscreens produced require cleaning, a process often involving the hazardous chemical n-hexane, which is similarly used in textile manufacturing. Wintek has previously been censured for its use of this somewhat extreme chemical.

In early 2009, protests were organized by the Taiwan Labor Organization relating to the use of harsh chemicals and proclaiming "poor working conditions" at this particular Wintek plant.

Last summer, a rash of similar poisonings were reported in China, however, it should be noted that some media outlets are reporting data from last August's poisoning as though it is current. When more details become available, I will update the post accordingly and revise any errors as they become apparent.

Image via China Daily News

[lolcats1]

this is hilarious. underpaid wage slaves are dying so that we, the privileged society, can live lives of luxury and opulence. how long until we are held accountable?

[rickybobby]

i feel you on that this is awful news we as american take everything for granted

[pyromcr]

at lease we dont have to do this. but i think that we need to start moving this kind of stuff out of china and into our own country. that wold create so many jobs and save the lives of so many chineese.

[hancoma]

Having first hand witnessed and helped to move jobs to a 'low cost region', I can tell you that worker safety is NOT a priority.
This is exploitation by corporations to create larger profit margins.
The people there are simply trying to survive and support a family on poor wages.
Horrible, atrocious, and morally defunct are all corporations that move to these 'low cost regions'.
Then again....everything we have now comes from overseas...
SIGH...

[iPhone3G[S]]

Having first hand witnessed and helped to move jobs to a 'low cost region', I can tell you that worker safety is NOT a priority.
This is exploitation by corporations to create larger profit margins.
The people there are simply trying to survive and support a family on poor wages.
Horrible, atrocious, and morally defunct are all corporations that move to these 'low cost regions'.
Then again....everything we have now comes from overseas...
SIGH...

And this forum supports it, as do we by buying these products...

[rhekt]

we dont have any control [Apple or otherwise] what goes on in another countries government controlled society.
Apple doesnt control the quality of the workplace. just the end product that comes out. talk to China if you all have issues.

[goodgod2]

at lease we dont have to do this. but i think that we need to start moving this kind of stuff out of china and into our own country. that wold create so many jobs and save the lives of so many chineese.

no one would be able to afford, an iphone ipod, macbook if it was made in the United States.

[matthew1111]

Why do all these death problems come from China? Though I guess we, the lazy Americans, are killing ourselves with 5000 calories a day...

[hancoma]

And this forum supports it, as do we by buying these products...

Agreed. All of us support it as there are little to no products built or manufactured in the U.S.A.

Rhekt, it may be a China issue with regards to worker treatment, and this is due to human rights or the lack there of, but the corporation has a responsibility in this also, if only out of a sense of moral obligation.

I for one would not want my product built in a place where I was knowingly allowing personnel to be in contact with hazardous materials without any safeguards.

This is simply exploitation in the name of profit, it is not like the end user is seeing cost savings.
One example is a large networking company called C**C*, (whom I have worked with and can tell you that the low cost savings are for profit increase only, and not passed to the consumer).

My 2 cents.

[mSidhu]

at lease we dont have to do this. but i think that we need to start moving this kind of stuff out of china and into our own country. that wold create so many jobs and save the lives of so many chineese.

The whole reason they do this is because they dont pay them proper wages. Mabey 50 US cent maximum per day. If they brought these factories to the US companies would go broke so fast you would never see ipod or iphones ever.

[steve-z17]

Only one explanation, Apple's iPhone is too awesome for some human beings!

Edit- On a more serious note, someone should start a company that collects and donates safety equipment to factories over there.

[glendoor]

without people buying ipads and iphones this wouldn't happen. You're all to blame!!!

jk im surprised by this i figured machines just kind of stamped on glass

[thrash907]

we dont have any control [Apple or otherwise] what goes on in another countries government controlled society.
Apple doesnt control the quality of the workplace. just the end product that comes out. talk to China if you all have issues.

agreed, and chinese products have in the past killed us and our pets anyways

The whole reason they do this is because they dont pay them proper wages. Mabey 50 US cent maximum per day. If they brought these factories to the US companies would go broke so fast you would never see ipod or iphones ever.

they get paid more for working in bad conditions, for the most part employees prefer this as their wages are very low to begin with.

as for the latter, i dont agree. its not like the us has always outsourced to china, india, etc. but products would much more expensive

[lolcats1]

no one would be able to afford, an iphone ipod, macbook if it was made in the United States.

yes, actually we could. but we'd only be able to buy one every 5 or 6 years. instead of getting a new every year or so.

the horror.

agreed, and chinese products have in the past killed us and our pets anyways



they get paid more for working in bad conditions, for the most part employees prefer this as their wages are very low to begin with.

as for the latter, i dont agree. its not like the us has always outsourced to china, india, etc. but products would much more expensive

pastafarian GTFO

[Bluprint]

no one would be able to afford, an iphone ipod, macbook if it was made in the United States.

yeah your right

That means apple would have make less than 60% profit on everything, it seems unreasonable.

[eaglesteve]

I read somewhere that the Chinese manufacturer is paid only a mere $10 for each unit of iPad they produce. If this is true, are they paid even less for iPhone and iPod? And the Chinese workers risks their lives for peanuts. The ironic thing is that despite this, their hard earned cash are still in US, tied up with the government loan that they can't really get rid off without destroying the prices of their investment. Now, on top of that, they're being pressurised to revalue their currency, which means that when they bring these money back to their home country, they loss a hugh chunk of it again. The west has certainly taken them for a ride.

It's harsh life to be a blue collar workers in China. If I live there, I want to be the corrupt offficial.:-)

[1shuttle1]

Yeah Jobs would only be a multi-millionaire and not a billionaire. Poor guy probably could find a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

[thrash907]

pastafarian GTFO

u in love with ID or something?

was meaning to change it anyways

[lolcats1]

u in love with ID or something?

was meaning to change it anyways

lol is this the same kid i was talking to earlier? i can't tell.

and if you want to talk about creationism/ evolving from a bucket of slime. go look up entropy. then we can talk

yeah your right

That means apple would have make less than 60% profit on everything, it seems unreasonable.

your complete and utter failure at economics is truly astounding.