Electric car maker Tesla is being cited and facing $89,000 in fines following an industrial accident that injured three workers at the company’s Bay Area plant last year.
A Nov. 13 equipment malfunction spilled hot metal onto three Fremont factory workers, burning them. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health issued the fine and seven citations for safety violations related to the incident.
An inspection showed Tesla failed to make sure the equipment was working safely.
Tesla’s employees were also not wearing face shields or safety jackets to protect them from splattering molten metal, causing second- and third-degree burns and setting their clothing on fire, according to Cal-OSHA’s report.
The men were identified as Jesus Navarro, Kevin Carter and Jorge Terrazas.
Tesla has 15 days to appeal the ruling.
Palo Alto-based Tesla manufactures its all-electric Model S sedan at the Fremont facility.
The company has been fined by Cal-OSHA before. There was an accident on Nov. 28, 2011, when a worker's fingertip had to be amputated, according to a state report. Tesla was fined $18,000, an amount that was ultimately reduced to $5,400. There were other accidents at the company in 2010 and 2012.
