TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A federal agency is investigating the death of a person last week at the Tesla Gigafactory.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration confirmed the agency is investigating an incident where a worker died.
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office and Austin-Travis County EMS responded to the Tesla factory around 8:30 a.m. Aug. 1.
ATCEMS said it responded to a cardiac arrest and took an adult to Dell Seton Medical Center in critical, life-threatening condition.
The call type was changed to deceased person, the sheriff’s office confirmed.
No other investigation information was shared, but the OSHA investigation is required to finish in six months.
Tesla has not responded to a KXAN statement request.
The process of OSHA inspections
OSHA Austin Area Office Director Monica Camacho said if it finds violations, it can issue citations and fines.
“They can go ahead and make payment or they can request an informal conference where they come and meet w ith me or one of our managerial staff,” Camacho said. “Also, they have an option to contest and so at that point, we’re going straight into litigation.”
Camacho said it has an investigator on site currently gathering information at the Gigafactory.
“It’s important for us to get corrective action if a hazard is identified. So we want to evaluate all the information that we receive and process the inspection as soon as possible.”
Monica Camacho, OSHA Austin Area Office Director
Along with OSHA’s programmed inspections, there are other factors that can spark one.
“It can result from a complaint or a referral,” Camacho said. “Notifications of workplace fatalities where an employer is required to notify us within eight hours. An amputation, loss of an eye, which they’re required to notify us within 24 hours.”
Camacho said anyone with safety and health-related concerns about their workplace, should reach out to OSHA.
“Those calls are confidential. Your information isn’t shared with the employer,” Camacho said. “We also share with any workers not to be afraid of their immigration status as well. They’re able to call freely, and we’ll be able to look into their concerns.”
Prior inspections
According to OSHA data, there have been three other inspections at Tesla Giga Texas since 2021. One was opened in November 2022, and it was closed in December 2022. The second was filed July 5 and remains open.
In November 2022, a group of workers filed two cases with the U.S. Labor Department about worker pay and training.
Camacho said with any inspection, OSHA looks to see if there is any type of citation history with the employer.
“It may impact their monetary penalties, if any are applied,” said Camacho.
Workplace deaths in Texas
In 2022, there were 578 fatal workplace injuries in Texas — an 8% increase from 2021 and a 19% increase from 2020, according to the most recent report from the Texas Department of Insurance.
The transportation and warehousing industry had the most deaths in 2022 with 184, which made up 22% of all fatal workplace injuries in Texas. This was followed by the construction industry with 141 deaths and the natural resources and mining industry with 61 deaths, per the report.