Three Contract Workers Die at TSMC's 2nm Fab Construction Site in Taiwan

Fatal Accident at Fab 22 Construction

Three contract workers were killed and one was critically injured in an accident at the construction site for TSMC’s 2nm Fab 22 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The incident occurred during steel-structure hoisting and installation, with initial suspicions pointing to a broken bolt on a third-floor connection plate, causing workers and steel components to fall.

Investigation and Response

Following the accident, steel hoisting on the project has been halted. The Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) Bureau has dispatched labor inspectors to investigate the cause. TSMC has also stopped related construction work and is cooperating with authorities while supervising the subcontractor involved. Emergency services transported all four workers to the hospital, where three died despite resuscitation efforts, and the fourth was moved to intensive care.

Context of Previous Incidents

This incident is not isolated; it follows at least six other fatal accidents at TSMC construction sites in Taiwan since September 2024, each resulting in one worker's death. The increased pace of fab construction, with TSMC planning 13 new fabs and a capital expenditure of $60 billion to $64 billion this year, has led to greater scrutiny of contractor safety records in the selection process.

Fab 22 Project Details

The Fab 22 complex in Kaohsiung is a key part of TSMC's strategy to accelerate 2nm manufacturing, with high-volume production expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025. The complex involves five planned phases and a total investment exceeding NT$1.5 trillion (approximately $46 billion). The accident occurred in the construction area for Phase 4, which began in August 2025, with operations anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2027.