Apparently, being employed at Rivian's factory in Normal, Illinois is risky business. Employees have lost fingers and suffered skull fractures.
The car brand Rivian has problems with more than 'just' making money on the brand's cars. A new article by the financial media Bloomberg raises doubts about the working conditions of the car factory in Normal, Illinois.
Several employees have told about serious work injuries, including skull fractures, lost fingers and the need for operations.
Bloomberg has interviewed current and former employees and analyzed data from the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which shows that Rivian has received 16 serious complaints over the past 21 months.
In comparison, major car manufacturers such as Toyota, GM, Honda, Nissan and Ford received fewer than 10 prosecutions in the same period.
The report describes a work environment where employees feel pressured to keep the production line running at all costs.
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Dangerous situations have been reported by the authorities – e.g. using forklifts to push semi-finished cars around the factory.
Just as there have been complaints about a leaky roof over an area where Rivian stores battery packs. A former employee claims to have vomited blue liquid after working in the paint shop without adequate respiratory protection.
OSHA's data shows that Rivian has received more citations than other automakers with multiple factories.
However, Rivian claims that most of the serious charges have subsequently been downgraded or completely dropped again. Conversely, former OSHA employees say that downgrading charges are often used to encourage automakers to improve safety and avoid lawsuits.
A Rivian spokesperson told Bloomberg that the company always provides the necessary safety equipment and is "proud of a strong safety record – which improves year after year."
However, the report raises serious questions about safety at Rivian's factory and the brand's prioritization of employee well-being.
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