SpaceX reports highest worker injury rate in the industry
What's the story
SpaceX, a prominent figure in the space industry, has reported an escalating worker injury rate for the second year running.
The company's Brownsville, Texas facility recorded 5.9 injuries per 100 employees, a significant increase from 4.8 injuries in 2022, and notably higher than the industry average of 0.8 injuries.
This information was revealed in a recent review of safety records submitted by SpaceX to US regulators.
Problems
More than 600 unreported injuries last year
The review further disclosed that injury rates at multiple SpaceX locations, surpassed the industry average in 2023.
Some sites even reported a rise in injury rates compared to the previous year.
A separate investigation by Reuters uncovered over 600 unreported employee injuries in 2023, with some incidents resulting in severe outcomes such as crushed limbs, amputations, and one fatality.
Quality concerns
Former OSHA administrator warns NASA about high injury rates
David Michaels, a former administrator at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and professor at George Washington University, warned that these heightened injury rates could indicate substandard production quality.
He urged NASA, which relies heavily on SpaceX's services and has granted the company billions in contracts, to take note of this issue.
However, NASA has chosen not to comment on this matter.
Worrying
SpaceX's injury rates are higher than the industry average
OSHA, the federal agency responsible for workplace safety, has not yet commented on SpaceX's injury rates.
Using data from OSHA, Reuters calculated the most recent injury rates and found that eight major facilities reported injuries from SpaceX in 2023, three more than the previous year.
One particularly disturbing report came from a SpaceX unit responsible for retrieving rocket boosters from the Pacific Ocean.
This unit reported an alarming 7.6 injuries per 100 workers, significantly greater than the industry average.
Unaddressed issues
SpaceX has not publicly discussed its safety record
Despite these alarming statistics, neither SpaceX nor its CEO Elon Musk, have publicly discussed the company's safety record in depth.
Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX's Chief Operating Officer, reiterated the company's commitment to safety in a social media post.
She stated that the safety of astronauts and personnel remains their top priority.
As concerns about safety standards at SpaceX facilities continue to rise, stakeholders are demanding more transparency and accountability to ensure employee well-being, and the success of space missions.