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Sunday, December 08, 2024  
05 Jumada Al-Akhirah 1446  

Engineer attacked by robot in violent malfunction at Tesla factory

The swift integration of new technology has faced scrutiny
File Photo via Reuters
File Photo via Reuters

In a tragic turn of events at the Giga Texas factory near Austin, a Tesla engineer lost his life during a robot malfunction, as reported by the Daily Mail.

The engineer was pinning down two disabled Tesla robots when one, designed to grip and transport freshly cast aluminum vehicle parts, unexpectedly attacked.

The robot’s metal claws penetrated the worker’s back and arm, resulting in a distressing scene with a ‘trail of blood’ across the factory floor.

Details of the incident, including the victim sustaining an ‘open wound’ on his left hand, were disclosed in a 2021 injury report, according to the Daily Mail, which reviewed relevant documents.

The shocking event has horrified witnesses, shedding light on the potential risks associated with advanced automation in industrial settings.

While no other robot-related injuries were reported to regulators in 2021 or 2022, the recent incident underscores escalating concerns regarding the hazards associated with automated robots in workplaces.

The swift integration of new technology has faced scrutiny, especially in light of emerging reports detailing heightened injuries attributed to robotic coworkers at Amazon shipment centers, incidents involving aggressive robotic chess instructors, reports of self-driving automobile mishaps, and even instances of harm caused by robotic doctors.

This incident at the Giga Texas factory adds to the ongoing conversation about the careful implementation and regulation of advanced technologies in various industries.

Tesla’s injury report, required to maintain tax breaks in Texas, claimed the engineer did not require time off work. However, an attorney representing Tesla’s Giga Texas contract workers believes the number of injuries suffered at the factory is underreported, based on conversations with workers.

This assertion is backed by the unreported death of a construction worker in September 2021 and conversations with other employees, BNN reported.

Furthermore, the Workers Defense Project has complained to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), alleging that Tesla’s contractors provided false safety certificates to some workers.

This situation is not unique as there has been a history of Tesla underreporting injuries.

Numerous inquiries have exposed the misclassification of workplace accidents to evade regulatory attention.

The recurring worries regarding the security of robotic automation in the workplace are heightened by the Giga Texas incident.

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