Elon Musk’s SpaceX Fined $3,600 After ‘Near Amputation’ Accident in Workplace

SpaceX is in hot water over workplace safety. Elon Musk's company was reportedly fined after an accident nearly led to an "amputation."

SpaceX Fined For "Nearly Amputation" Accident

According to inspection records accessed by Reuters, Elon Musk's SpaceX was fined $3,600 by US workplace safety inspectors this month following an incident at the company's Washington state location that resulted in a "near amputation."

Based on the state inspection records obtained by Reuters under an open records request, 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, per 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.

SpaceX managers 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 80 pounds to 300 pounds (36 kg to 136 kg), each was not obliged to wear steel-toe shoes. A representative for the agency stated that the infraction was deemed severe, considering the possibility of harm.

The documents also revealed that one employee at the location informed inspectors that "safety can get overlooked" as the company's "goal is to make as much as we can in a short amount of time." The injured worker alleged that the roll-loading machine "had been purposefully set up incorrectly to increase the production rate during the material loading phase," the injured worker alleged.

The employee, whose identity was withheld from inspectors, informed them that the issue remained unresolved and that the company's safety representatives lacked the necessary skills to carry out a safety plan at the Redmond location.

An investigation conducted late last year by Reuters revealed that Musk's rocket company violated conventional operating procedures and worker safety laws at its locations nationwide. The news agency documented at least 600 injuries to SpaceX workers that had not been previously reported since 2014 through government documents and interviews.

The accidents included the death of one worker and the injury of another who is now in a coma due to a fractured skull sustained during a 2022 rocket engine malfunction. SpaceX has not responded to Reuters' inquiries. Additionally, the business ignored a request for comment regarding the new safety fine.

Elon Musk Allegedly Discouraged Employees From Wearing Safety Clothes

In a previous and separate report, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO was allegedly loose when exercising safety measures at the workplace. Four SpaceX workers claimed that Musk discouraged them from wearing yellow-colored clothes simply because he didn't like bright colors.

According to three former SpaceX supervisors, Musk would have equipment coated in industrial safety yellow repainted to black or blue because he preferred the latter and didn't like how the former looked. The former managers added that certain employees were instructed not to wear yellow safety vests while Musk was there.

The staff informed the news outlet that Musk would experiment with a toy flamethrower on site.

Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times.