In a startling incident at Tesla’s Giga Texas factory near Austin, an engineer was violently attacked by a malfunctioning robot. The incident, which occurred during the programming of software for two disabled Tesla robots, resulted in the engineer being pinned and injured by the machine’s metal claws, leaving a trail of blood on the factory floor.
Witnesses described the harrowing scene as the robot, designed for handling freshly cast aluminum car parts, unexpectedly turned on the engineer, inflicting an open wound on his left hand. The details of this incident were revealed in a 2021 injury report filed to Travis County and federal regulators, which DailyMail.com reviewed.
This alarming event at Tesla’s Texas factory raises concerns about the safety of automated robots in the workplace. While Tesla reported no other robot-related injuries in 2021 or 2022, the incident underscores the potential risks associated with the integration of such technology.
The injury report, legally required for Tesla to maintain its tax breaks in Texas, indicated that the engineer did not need time off work. However, an attorney representing Tesla’s Giga Texas contract workers expressed skepticism about the accuracy of injury reporting at the factory. The attorney, Hannah Alexander of the nonprofit Workers Defense Project, suggested that the number of injuries and even a construction worker’s death in September 2021 might be underreported.
The incident involving the Tesla engineer is part of a broader trend of increased workplace injuries associated with robotic coworkers. Reports of injuries at Amazon shipment centers due to robotic coworkers, incidents involving self-driving cars, and other robotic accidents have sparked debate about the rapid integration of such technology.
Tesla’s Giga Texas factory, which spans over 2,000 acres, has been the subject of scrutiny regarding workplace safety. Last year, the Workers Defense Project filed a complaint with the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), alleging that Tesla’s contractors and subcontractors provided false safety certificates to some hires.
The incident at Tesla’s Texas factory highlights the need for stringent safety measures and thorough reporting in environments where humans interact closely with automated machinery. It also brings into focus the challenges and risks associated with the increasing use of robotics in industrial settings.