EV maker Rivian’s Normal, Illinois, plant has been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for 16 serious violations in 21 months, Bloomberg reported. Injuries sustained by workers include severed fingers, vomiting of “Livian Blue” bile after painting without protection, cracked skulls, and severe lacerations to the backs. EV manufacturers only operate one factory. But over a 21-month period, it had more violations than major automakers such as Honda, Volvo, and Ford.
This is not the only injury. There are many other injuries that workers say go unreported. A notable case is that of Addison Zwanzig, who was ordered to paint a vehicle without a ventilator. Within a few weeks, she experienced vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and was vomiting the aforementioned blue bile. Only then was she offered a ventilator, along with her colleagues who had not previously been provided one.
“The safety of everyone at Rivian is our top priority. We are continually improving our processes, but we have not received any significant citations this year.” “It’s very disappointing to see how we’re being misrepresented,” a Rivian spokesperson said. Engadget. “It’s very disappointing to see how Bloomberg misrepresents the facts in this article. Since January 2023, Rivian has received two significant citations from OSHA. should not be confused with citations, and to suggest otherwise is incredibly misleading.
Separately, Rivian told Bloomberg that it provides all necessary safety equipment to its employees. Employees can also raise concerns with their managers or report them anonymously. Rivian’s safety and processes have improved since 2021, but the recent injuries are still concerning.
Rivian has canceled plans to build the R2 SUV in Georgia, opting instead to build it at its Normal, Illinois, plant. Despite these reports of injuries, EV makers are still trying to hire more workers. But with OSHA in its grip, the company may have to work harder to protect its employees, especially if the company doesn’t allow employees to unionize.
Updated at 1:57 p.m. ET: Added comment from Rivian.
