Workers ' Poisoned ' turn to Apple

23 February 2011, Last updated at 12: 28 GMT Wintek touchscreens on contract makes Apple and other mobile phone companies. Chinese workers injured while making touchscreens for mobile devices, including iPhones, Apple have written in asking it to do more to help them.

Some 137 workers suffered adverse health effects after exposure to a chemical, known as n-hexane.

They argue that the Taiwanese factory owner never gave them a sufficient compensation.

Apple did not offer comment on the letter.

Five workers, including the 27-year-old Jia Jingchuan, have signed a letter to the chief executive officer Steve Jobs, asking Apple to offer help to above incidents.

They say that the owner of the factory didn't give enough compensation, urged those who took off to give up their job and was unable to guarantee that workers who might suffer illnesses fresh medical bills will have taken care of.

Long-term damage

WinTek, the Taiwan company that owns the factory said that the chemical is used in place of alcohol because evaporated faster and accelerate the production of touchscreens.

It has now returned to using alcohol to clean screens.

Jia Jingchuan is among victims of chemical poisoning

Workers exposed to n-hexane expert fainting and exhaustion, sweaty hands and feet, numbness in hands and feet swelling and pain. Some argue that they are still ill-effects.

Experts say that daily exposure to n-hexane can cause long-term damage.

In its annual report, published last week, Apple has acknowledged the incident.

"In 2010 we have learned that 137 workers at the plant of Suzhou to Wintek, one of the vendors Apple, they had suffered the adverse health effects following exposure to n-hexane, a chemical detergents used in certain manufacturing processes," read the report.

"We have commissioned Wintek to stop the use of n-hexane and provide proof that they had removed the chemical from their production lines," he said.

Apple said it has also asked the firm to provide adequate ventilation in the factory. You will monitor the plant and reaudit facility this year.

WinTek also provides components to a number of other companies, including Nokia and HTC.

This is not the first problem that Apple has experimented with its Chinese factories.

Annual report also refers to an incident to its primary supplier Foxconn factory in China, where a dozen workers committed suicide.

"We were disturbed and deeply saddened to learn that factory workers were taking their own life," read the report.

You said "suicide prevention specialists" were working with Foxconn to improve conditions.