Elon Musk's SpaceX has proven to be lacking in terms of workplace safety programs after Washington state inspectors concluded investigations for an accident that nearly amputated an employee. SpaceX has reportedly been fined $3,600 for the incident.
According to Reuters, state inspection records under an open records request reveal that inspectors from Washington state's Department of Labor and Industries found new safety breaches at the company's Redmond, Washington, plant last December during a visit prompted by worker complaints. SpaceX still has the option to appeal the ruling, according to an agency representative.
The inspectors reportedly concluded that the facility lacked a "thorough safety program," proper communication of work regulations, and a mechanism to "correct violations." Inspectors referred to the incident as a "near amputation" since a roll of material dropped and crushed a worker's foot.
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TOPSHOT - The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rests on Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on February 5, 2018, ahead of its demonstration mission. - SpaceX is poised for the first test launch February 6 of its Falcon Heavy, which aims to become the world's most powerful rocket in operation, capable of ferrying people to the Moon or Mars some day.
SpaceX managers reportedly informed the state inspectors that the issue had been resolved and it was an isolated incident. Inspectors discovered, however, that even though the rolls of materials workers had to feed into a machine had become heavier-from roughly 36 kg to 136 kg each, the company did not oblige its employees to wear steel-toe shoes. A representative for the agency stated that the infraction was deemed severe, considering the possibility of harm.
According to the documents, a worker at the site informed inspectors that safety can be disregarded because the company's priority is to produce as much as possible quickly. According to the wounded worker, the roll-loading machine had been purposefully misconfigured to boost output during the material-loading stage.
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SpaceX's Mars Mission Over Worker Safety
These sentiments prove to be aligned with previous reports wherein after workers voiced concerns about their working conditions in an open letter, SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell instructed staff members in a 2022 email to concentrate on their jobs and the company's goal of getting humans to Mars as soon as possible.
According to the Business Insider article, Shotwell's email came in response to an open letter from SpaceX employees that criticized the firm for its indifferent treatment of employee concerns and its inconsistent implementation of disciplinary procedures.
Sources indicate that these quick cuts resulted in serious injuries, including comas and occasionally even the death of employees. The report then concluded that the "rat race" of the space industry, in which SpaceX is generally considered the leading participant, is reflected in the company's declining workplace safety and increased work pace.
SpaceX's Continuing Safety Concerns
After voicing their complaints in the letter, nine employees were let go, and eight of them later filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board regarding unfair labor practices. According to Reuters, since 2024, the company has allegedly recorded more than 600 labor injuries at SpaceX locations that have not been previously publicized.
On the other hand, CNBC also previously reported employee accounts that revealed that senior SpaceX managers circumvented safety procedures and product testing to maximize productivity. They also claimed that SpaceX avoids "a certain amount of red tape."
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