Tesla is being accused of misrepresenting workplace injuries at its manufacturing plant in Fremont, California. According to an investigation conducted by Reveal, plant supervisors covered up reports of workplace injuries. Instead of reporting the injuries, plant supervisors allegedly dismissed or mislabeled the incidents to ensure they would not count against Tesla’s workplace safety statistics.
Injuries included reports of being “crushed by forklifts, exposed to chemicals, burned by electrical explosions and splashed by molten metal.” In 2017, the rate of injuries that required Tesla workers to take time off or work with restrictions was reportedly 30 percent higher than the industry average.
A former Tesla manager responsible for reviewing injury records, responding to injuries and teaching safety classes claims that workplace safety took a backseat to meeting production goals. The former manager, who reportedly tried to alert company executives to safety problems at the plant, told Reveal “it’s just a matter of time before somebody gets killed.”
Reveal’s report made other allegations against Tesla. The report claims that Tesla avoided using warning signs at its plants for aesthetic reasons. For instance, the report suggests the plant did not use yellow tape to mark walkways because of CEO Elon Musk’s aversion to the color. In addition, the report accuses Tesla of failing to provide sufficient training for workers with dangerous job duties.
Tesla employs more than 10,000 workers at its Fremont factory.
Can I File a Lawsuit If I’m Injured at Work?
You may have one or more options to recover compensation if you suffer injuries at work. In most cases, you would apply for workers’ compensation benefits. Although there are exceptions, it is generally not possible to sue your employer for a workplace injury.
It may be possible to recover compensation if a third party caused your injuries. For instance, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer of defective assembly line equipment. This is just one example of a third-party claim. You can learn more about third-party claims by continuing to explore our website.
The Bay Area personal injury attorneys at Golden State Lawyers offer free consultations. If you or a loved one were hurt on the job, then you can contact us to explore possible options for recovering compensation.