This month, U.S. worker safety authorities imposed a $3,600 fine on Elon Musk’s SpaceX following an incident at the company’s Washington state site that resulted in a “near amputation,” as per inspection records examined. An investigation conducted late last year revealed a pattern of Musk’s rocket company consistently neglecting worker safety regulations and standard practices across its facilities nationwide. The news organization documented at least 600 previously unreported injuries through interviews and government records. The undocumented injuries include one death, a 2022 rocket engine malfunction that left another worker in a coma, and hundreds of other cases that range from severe — like crushed limbs and amputations — to minor — such as cuts and lacerations.
Current and former employees say the injuries reflect a chaotic workplace where under-trained and overtired staff often skips basic safety procedures to meet Musk’s aggressive deadlines for space missions. The CEO himself has sometimes seemed cavalier about safety when visiting factory sites. Employees said he often plays with a flamethrower that shoots thick flames five or 10 feet long and insisted that bright yellow safety warnings be removed from the facility because he doesn’t like them.
SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment on the newly imposed fine, the latest in a series of concerns about the company’s disregard for worker safety. The company has been accused of using the poop emoji to dismiss criticism on social media and has fired employees who have raised workplace complaints.
In a January 2022 incident, employee Francisco Cabada conducted a pressure test on a rocket engine when the valve suddenly went from decompressing to full pressure. The sudden increase in force blew a shield off the valve, striking him in the head and leaving him with a skull fracture and an unconscious condition. SpaceX did not file a report of the incident with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration until nearly a year after.
Workers told that managers regularly ignore safety concerns and encourage them to focus on getting the work done fast and to disregard rules despite the risk of injury or even death. Some employees felt compelled to hide injuries from their bosses and co-workers because of the pressure to meet Musk’s demanding production schedules.
The number of SpaceX worker injuries is likely far higher than reported because the company has not consistently submitted reports to OSHA since 2016 when the agency required the company to do so. The company was not required to submit those reports in years before 2016.
Of the injuries, documented, more than 100 workers suffered cuts or lacerations, 29 had broken bones or dislocations, 17 experienced their hands or fingers being crushed, and nine suffered head injuries, including four concussions and one traumatic brain injury. There were also more than five burns, five electrocutions, and eight accidents that resulted in amputations or other significant injuries to body parts. In addition, more than 170 workers had strains or sprains.
