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SpaceX was fined $3,600 this month because of a "near amputation" accident at its facility in Washington state.
Inspection records reviewed and first reported by Reuters document the incident, in which a heavy roll of material fell onto a SpaceX employee's foot, nearly taking it off entirely. SpaceX employees were apparently not required to wear steel-toed shoes, despite the rolls weighing 300 pounds each.
SpaceX managers reportedly told Washington state worker safety inspectors that the near-amputation event was a one-off accident and the issue had been resolved.
But the injured worker whose foot was crushed said the roll loading machine "had been deliberately set up incorrectly for the purpose of increasing the production rate during the material loading phase."
This accident is one of numerous worker injuries that has been documented at the company as CEO Elon Musk pushes forward with plans to take "a million people to Mars."
But this lofty goal may have come at the price of worker safety. Inspectors reviewing SpaceX's Washington state location said it lacked a "thorough safety program" or policies for addressing "violations," Reuters found.
One SpaceX worker reportedly said that "safety can get overlooked" because SpaceX's aim is "to make as we much as we can in a short amount of time."
Over 600 workplace injuries have occurred at SpaceX over the years, including amputations, crushed limbs, electrocutions, head and eye wounds, and even one death, according to a 2023 Reuters investigation.
According to regulatory records, SpaceX has been fined about $50,836 for workplace safety violations—a slap on the wrist compared to SpaceX's estimated $180 billion valuation. One SpaceX employee has also spoken out about the company's "toxic culture," where workers were reportedly fired for criticizing Musk.
Musk's electric vehicle company Tesla has also faced various violations. Twenty-five California counties sued Tesla earlier this month for improperly disposing of hazardous waste. The lawsuit was quickly settled for $1.5 million.