Robot sunk its metal claws into worker’s back and arm leaving an “open wound” on his left hand
Witnesses were left horrified when a Tesla engineer was fatally mauled by a robot during a “violent” malfunction at the Giga Texas factory in Austin, Daily Mail reported.
The robot, which was designed to grasp and move recently cast aluminium vehicle parts, sunk its metal claws into the worker’s back and arm as the engineer was pinning two disabled Tesla robots, leaving a “trail of blood” across the factory floor.
Daily Mail, after reviewing documents, reported that the attack left the victim with an “open wound” on the his left hand, which was disclosed in an injury report from 2021.
Although there were no other robot-related injuries reported to regulators in 2021 or 2022, the incident follows growing concerns over the risks of automated robots in the workplace.
Some have questioned the rapid adoption of new technology in light of reports of increased injuries from robotic coworkers at Amazon shipment centres, murderous droid doctors, self-driving automobiles, and even aggression from robotic chess instructors.
While Tesla’s injury report, required to maintain tax breaks in Texas, claimed the engineer did not require time off work, an attorney representing Tesla’s contract workers suggests that the actual number of injuries could be higher than reported.
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.