Tesla engineer attacked by robot at company’s Giga Texas factory, reports say
A Tesla engineer at the company’s factory near Austin was allegedly attacked by a robot in 2021, according to an incident report filed with regulators.
Robot attacks Tesla engineer at Giga Texas factory
A Tesla engineer at the company’s factory near Austin was reportedly attacked by a robot in 2021. The incident came to light through an injury report filed with regulators.
According to media reports, the robot in question was designed to handle freshly cast aluminium car parts. Witnesses allegedly saw the robot pinning the engineer and clawing at his back and arm, resulting in a 'trail of blood' on the factory floor.
The incident was documented in a 2021 injury report that was filed with Travis County and federal regulators. The engineer, who was tasked with programming software for two inoperative Tesla robots, sustained an 'open wound' on his left hand.
Emergency stop button saves the engineer
As the engineer struggled to break free from the robot's grip and was bleeding, a fellow worker quickly pressed the emergency 'stop' button. This action released the engineer, who then fell a few feet down a chute intended for collecting scrap aluminium.
Tesla reported that the engineer's injuries did not require time off from work for recovery. However, concerns have been raised about the working environment at the Giga Texas plant due to a higher rate of injuries compared to industry medians and a previous fatality during the factory's construction in 2021.
Tesla has faced criticism regarding its handling of workplace safety and accident reporting. The Independent has reached out to Tesla for a comment on the incident.
