Tesla could be fined a total of $38,000 after a worker was seriously injured at its Fremont plant earlier this year while driving a Model Y.
Documents received via Bloomberg through a California Public Records Act request reveal that Tesla failed to ensure that the force of a conveyor belt shut down while staff conducted quality inspections. In April, an employee was trapped in the Model Y after her door hit a constant roadblock. Vertical door of the plant. The documents do not specify the injuries suffered by the woman, only calling them “serious. “
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has cited Tesla for four safety violations. It has proposed fining it $18,000 for the violation as well as $18,000 for failing to maintain an effective injury and illness prevention program and two $1,000 fines for “general” violations at the Californian factory.
Bloomberg reports that Tesla is challenging the citations and fines. The regulator inspected the Fremont site between April and October and noted that it had failed to keep the plant clear of obstacles that could affect only workers. Tesla is also reported to have also failed to create written procedures to control “hazardous energy” during the cleaning, maintenance, repair, installation, and tune-up of certain machines.
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This is not the first time the Fremont plant has come to the attention of the government for these reasons. Last year, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing claimed the site harbored “rampant racism” and alleged that Tesla had turned a blind eye. Watch out for years of court cases over racial slurs at the factory. Tesla has denied those claims. In September of this year, the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a separate lawsuit against Tesla, saying it had tolerated severe harassment of black staff at the plant.