Rivian has reportedly been facing some serious safety issues at its manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois as the company has been grappling with severe worker injuries and violations related to workplace safety that have left workers with fractured bones, amputated fingers, and other serious injuries.
According to a report from Bloomberg, Rivian has received 16 serious safety violations from the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the past 21 months, more than any other automaker during this period. By comparison, larger companies like Tesla have received fewer initial citations. Making matters worse, some incidents have even been alleged by workers but not recorded in government reports.
One case involved a worker who experienced severe symptoms after painting vehicles without proper respiratory protection. She reported vomiting bile with a “Rivian blue” hue, likely from the paint fumes. Despite her complaints, her request for a respirator was initially denied, highlighting a significant gap in the company’s safety protocols.
Eventually, she was provided a respirator, but the damage had already been done, and she continues to seek medical treatment.
OSHA says Rivian “has improved their safety and health team and are very cooperative with the OSHA process” since inspections by the agency began in late 2021. However, the sheer volume of complaints and citations indicates the company is facing significant obstacles in ensuring a safe work environment.
Rivian’s Illinois plant currently employs over 7,400 workers, and was described as a “safety nightmare” by some current and former employees interviewed by Bloomberg. These employees confirmed hazardous working conditions, including incidents involving forklifts, improper safety training, and inadequate protective equipment.
Workers also reported a lack of clear safety policies, which vary from manager to manager, leading to confusion and increased risk on the factory floor.
You can read the full report with much more detail at Bloomberg.
