Federal regulators have accused Tesla of failing to comply with workplace safety regulations following the electrocution of an employee last summer at its auto factory in Austin, Texas, Reuters said.
The U.S. Department of Labor verified the findings in a statement to Reuters.
“The investigation is closed, and citations have been issued,” said the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which oversees the agency that managed the Tesla probe.
The Labor Department stated that the case was resolved in late January but did not reveal details about Tesla’s workplace safety violations or confirm if any penalties were issued, Automotive News said.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated the investigation following the August 1 death of Victor Gomez Sr.
According to OSHA records and a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Tesla by Gomez’s family, Gomez was an electrician working as a contractor at the Tesla plant in Texas and was killed while inspecting electrical panels at the site.
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The lawsuit claims negligence, stating the panel was supposed to be inactive but was powered on, leading to Gomez’s electrocution, according to Automotive News.
“The plant, a 10-million square-foot facility in Austin, Texas, is a manufacturing hub for Tesla’s Model Y vehicles and Cybertrucks,” Reuters said.
OSHA records indicate that Tesla received citations and a fine of approximately $7,000 last year for two workplace safety violations at its Texas plant, both related to inadequate protections against chemical hazards, Automotive News said.
Additionally, in 2022, the company faced two complaints alleging that it did not properly address reported violations of workplace safety and wage laws by subcontractors during the facility’s construction, according to Deccan Herald.
