Electric vehicle (EV) company Tesla is facing a full investigation into their health and safety at the Texas Gigafactory plant after a worker died while on the job. The employee died on Thursday after a cardiac arrest incident involved investigators.
Now, officials in the state will be conducting a full investigation into workplace hazards and safety violations that could have contributed to the death.
The Incident
On Thursday of last week, first responders were called to Tesla’s factory on the outskirts of Austin.
Responders reached the scene at roughly 8:30 a.m. to help. At first, the report of the emergency was a person in distress, but the call was soon upgraded to a “deceased person.”
Details Are Sparse
The company has not divulged details on the incident so far, and there has yet to be a public statement.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says that they will now investigate the death fully. The San Antonio News reported: “An agency spokesperson said the death investigation could take up to six months and that it is too early to comment further.”
OSHA Has Fined Tesla Before
OSHA noted that Elon Musk’s companies had faced several fines for violating basic worker safety regulations.
An incident occurred at Tesla’s Freemont plant in December 2023, in what is being described as “serious injuries” from a workplace event. An employee was trapped under a Tesla Model Y due to a malfunctioning conveyor belt. The company contested the fines.
More Unsafe Conditions Noted
Tesla has been in the papers for years due to questions over their safety work conditions in factories in California and Texas.
Employees have reported that they have been stuck working long hours to the point of exhaustion, unsafe working conditions, and accusations of harassment across the board at Tesla.
Chinese Factories Do Not Fare Better
Tesla has several factories overseas and often faces issues with worker conditions in their Chinese factories.
Last year, a worker died at a Chinese facility, and following the death, the Chinese government found that the company had “weaknesses in its safety measures” in the Shanghai plant.
Tesla’s Strong PR Department Keeps Them Safe
Under the guiding hand of billionaire Elon Musk, the company seems to be untouchable, regardless of bad press from employees or customers of the famously flawed Cyber truck.
Futurism magazine added that although Tesla operated with a barebones PR department, they keep matters under lock and key and often are not open with the public about incidents.
Investigation at the Austin Plant
Experts note that the investigation into the death this month at the Austin plant will likely take up to six months to resolve fully.
However, if found culpable in the death, Tesla is likely to face major fines and will be forced to change certain aspects of their factory.
The Death Could Have Been Coincidental
There is a chance that the death that occurred at the Tesla factory in Austin could have been completely coincidental.
A company cannot be aware of their employees’ underlying conditions or health issues. It’s unknown if the person who died had previous heart issues or if they experienced a sudden heart attack or episode.
Accidents Often Occur in Factories
Although it’s mournful when anyone dies in their workplace, it is the reality that working with large machines and heavy equipment comes with certain risk factors.
The International Labour Organization notes that 3 million people die of work-related accidents and diseases over the course of a regular year. These deaths can often be accidental and avoidable, which is why safety precautions are put into place. However, sometimes accidents happen and can’t be avoided.
The Family Can Sue Tesla
The family member of the dead worker is likely to sue Tesla regardless of the matter of death.
It can easily be resolved that workplace stress adds to heart-related conditions. Large companies often have massive insurance policies that can cover them in case of incidental death on their property.
Tesla Previously Guilty of Clean Air Act Violations
Earlier this year, the Tesla manufacturing plant in northern California was found guilty of violating the Clean Air Act by dumping thousands of pounds of toxic fumes into the environment.
The effects on the nearby community of Freemont, California, are likely to be difficult to quantify. Inhaling toxic fumes and being near manufacturing plants can contribute to cancer diagnoses. However, big companies faced with lawsuits have expensive lawyers who often argue that the cancer could have been naturally occurring. It’s untold how many people Tesla has truly hurt.
