PHOENIX — The Industrial Commission of Arizona has proposed issuing a financial penalty to TSMC after a worker died at the construction site earlier this year.
Cesar Anguiano-Guitron, 41, died in May 2024 after he was hit by blunt object while attempting to transfer waste material from the TSMC site near Interstate 17 and the Loop 303.
According to a report submitted to the industrial commission, Anguiano-Guitron went to investigate a hissing sound heard from the top of a tanker truck.
"While leaning over the center hatch on the tank, the hatch blew off due to over-pressurization, fatally wounding the employee," the report states.
Anguiano-Guitron had worked for a contractor working at the TSMC site in north Phoenix.
The commission has recently proposed citing TSMC for $16,131 due to the hazards workers were exposed to from the over-pressurization. The semiconductor manufacturer can still appeal the penalty or engage in an informal discussion with the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
Construction of the massive TSMC site began in 2021. Shortly before the fatal incident, TSMC announced it was receiving a major investment from the Biden administration to construct a third manufacturing plant.
TSMC gave the following statement to 12News:
"We again extend our deepest condolences to the family of the person who passed away in this tragic incident. TSMC’s top priority is the safety and welfare of everyone who works on our site, including our suppliers and their subcontractors. We are reviewing the investigation report and general duty citation issued by ADOSH, and will take appropriate follow-up actions and continue our cooperative exchange of information with ADOSH in this matter.
With regards to your question, we conducted an immediate review following the incident in May to ensure no ongoing risk and that the workplace was safe."
How big is Maricopa County?
Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.
The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).
One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.
The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.
The county was named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.
