SpaceX—Reuters investigation revealed 600+ unreported worker injuries at SpaceX facilities since 2014
A November 2023 Reuters investigation uncovered over 600 previously unreported worker injuries at SpaceX facilities, including broken bones, amputations, crushed limbs, electrocutions, and at least one death. SpaceX failed to report annual injury totals to OSHA as required since 2016. OSHA has issued 11 citations since 2021, including a $115,850 fine after a 2025 crane collapse at Starbase. Former employees described a culture prioritizing aggressive timelines over safety, with workers welding 12-hour days in extreme heat and Musk reportedly discouraging safety vests.
Scoring Impact
| Topic | Direction | Relevance | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate Governance | -against | secondary | -0.50 |
| Corporate Transparency | -against | secondary | -0.50 |
| Worker Rights | -against | primary | -1.00 |
| Overall incident score = | -0.453 | ||
Score = avg(topic contributions) × significance (critical ×2) × confidence (0.68)× agency (negligent ×0.5)
Evidence (2 signals)
OSHA fined SpaceX $115,850 after crane collapse at Starbase facility
OSHA issued the maximum financial penalty on six serious violations after a crane collapse at SpaceX's Starbase facility, finding SpaceX failed to properly inspect the crane before it collapsed. SpaceX has accumulated 11 OSHA citations since 2021.
Reuters investigation uncovered 600+ unreported injuries at SpaceX since 2014
Reuters identified over 600 previously unreported worker injuries at SpaceX facilities including broken bones, amputations, crushed limbs, electrocutions, and one death. SpaceX failed to report annual injury totals to OSHA since 2016.