Image Credit: Trevor Cokley
In a harrowing incident at the Giga Texas factory near Austin, a Tesla engineer fell victim to a robot attack during a malfunction. Two colleagues witnessed the horrifying event as the machine, designed to handle aluminum car parts, unexpectedly pinned and injured the engineer, leaving a trail of blood on the factory floor.
The 2021 injury report submitted to authorities detailed the incident, reporting an open wound on the engineer's left hand. Concerns over the safety of automated robots in workplaces have been escalating, with reports of injuries in various industries.
However, Tesla, required by law to submit injury reports for tax incentives, claimed the engineer didn't require time off. Yet, an attorney representing Tesla's Giga Texas contract workers alleged underreporting, citing instances such as the death of a construction worker, Antelmo Ramírez, who succumbed to heat stroke in September 2021.
The Workers Defense Project filed a complaint with OSHA last year, alleging false safety certificates and inadequate training for Giga Texas workers. The attorney advised caution when interpreting Tesla's injury reports, suggesting discrepancies in accurately reporting incidents.
