Tesla Fined Nearly $50K Over Worker’s Death at Austin Gigafactory

Tesla has been fined nearly $50,000 by federal regulators for severe safety violations that occurred at the company's Austin gigafactory last year. 

The incident involved an electrician, Victor Joe Gomez Sr., who was electrocuted. Tesla was cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for failing to provide sufficient protective apparatus and for exposing employees to electrical hazards.

OSHA issued three citations, each valued at $16,550, after determining that workers were permitted to operate in a hazardous proximity to active electrical circuits without adhering to appropriate safety protocols. 

According to an OSHA spokesperson, Tesla has denied the violations.Tesla has been sued by Gomez's family for negligence, claiming that he was inspecting electrical panels that were supposed to be powered off at the time of his death. 

U.S. Representative Greg Casar, a critic of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, advocated for increased transparency and worker protections, asserting that "The death of an electrician should not be treated differently because the CEO for whom he worked is wealthy and influential."

Tesla has encountered workplace safety fines previously. The company was fined nearly $7,000 last year for exposing personnel to hazardous chemicals. 

The outcome of Tesla's ongoing legal disputes regarding its safety practices may be affected as the company contests the most recent citations.

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