Tesla Responds to Workplace Safety Allegations at Giga Berlin

Credit: Tesla

Tesla responds to workplace safety allegations at Giga Berlin raised by a German publication. The company denies allegations of a lack of labor protection at its factory. Previously, the Brandenburg government also issued an official statement to refute the false information of the publication.

The German publication, Stern, recently published an article containing information regarding a supposedly unusually high number of accidents at the Tesla factory in Brandenburg, Germany. The article indicated that there were serious and extremely serious accidents at Giga Berlin, as well as many environmental accidents. According to information, accidents at the plant occurred almost daily over a long period of time. This report was picked up by many local and international publications, damaging Tesla's reputation.

Tesla responded to the allegations by saying it did not believe the allegations of a lack of labor protection at its factory in Grünheide near Berlin were true. “For us, as Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg, protecting the health of our employees is our top priority, and therefore occupational safety,” the company said at the request of ntv. Tesla said accidents are analyzed and assessed by qualified personnel. Appropriate precautions or necessary changes are then taken. All employees have the necessary work and protective clothing and are trained in protective measures. Compliance with occupational safety measures at Giga Berlin is frequently and regularly checked by the responsible government authorities.

Last week, the Brandenburg government also intervened to expose the misleading information published by Stern. A government official rejected accusations that there was insufficient control over the site and said there had been no significant increase in accidents at work. It was emphasized that Tesla is the only company in the state that is under such super close control.

“In all of Brandenburg, there is no company or large construction site that is inspected more intensively and frequently than the Tesla construction site and the Tesla company,” State Health Minister Ursula Nonnemacher told the state parliament’s health committee. She emphasized that the company is treated the same as any other company in Brandenburg. Every report of potential violations of labor safety rules, including anonymous ones, is investigated.

Marian Mischke, the responsible head of the Department of the State Chancellery, said that during the construction phase, the Tesla factory was inspected weekly. Inspections are now carried out approximately every two weeks. Event-related inspections are conducted without notice every six to eight weeks.

Mischke emphasized that despite the Stern report's claim, compared to other automakers, Tesla has not seen a noticeable increase in the number of workplace accidents. In addition, he pointed out that the assessment must also take into account that the manufacturer simultaneously manages the construction site and production. Moreover, several hundred different companies were involved in the construction of the factory.

© 2023, Eva Fox | Tesmanian. All rights reserved.

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