A Tesla engineer met a horrible end in a scary episode at the company’s Giga Texas factory near Austin when a failure caused a robot to become a vicious attacker.
As the engineer was pinning two disabled Tesla robots, the Daily Mail reports that one of the robots, which was meant to grab and move aluminum vehicle parts, became aggressive and sank its metal claws into the worker’s back and arm, leaving a disturbing “trail of blood” across the factory floor.
This horrific act was documented in the 2021 injury report, which also mentioned the victim’s left hand’s “open wound.” The study stated that the engineer did not need time off work to heal, despite the severity.
These worries go beyond the confines of the factory and represent wider worries about the growing use of automated robots in the workplace.
Concerns over the rapid integration of technology and its effect on workplace safety have been sparked by incidents at Amazon shipment centers, claims of aggressive robotic behavior, and even fatalities.
There have been accusations against Tesla about their injury reporting record, including misclassifying incidents to divert regulatory attention.
The Workers Defense Project has reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that fake safety certificates issued by Tesla’s contractors were given to employees.
A full review of safety protocols and reporting procedures in businesses adopting advanced robotic automation is becoming more and more necessary as the sad Giga Texas event adds to the story of worries surrounding robotic automation.
