General Motors (GM) OSHA recommends fines for GM joint venture battery plant

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Thursday recommended imposing fines of $270,000 on a joint venture battery plant in Ohio, operated by General Motors (NYSE: GM) and LG Energy Solution.

The recommendation comes after inspectors found the company exposed workers to hazards when they failing to train on safety and emergency response procedures and did not adhere to federal standards for the use of personal protective equipment.

Ultium Cells claimed Thursday that the company takes safety seriously and has requested a hearing with OSHA, which is the next step in this process.

OSHA also confirmed issuing a hazard alert letter, urging the company to take voluntary measures to reduce the buildup of metal dust and enhance employee protection from potential exposure to hazardous metal dust.

"The company’s focus on the future must include an emphasis on workplace safety to ensure the well-being of its employees," Said OSHA Area Director Howard Eberts.

OSHA asserted that Ultium must install mandatory machine guarding, provide training to workers in hazardous energy control and emergency response procedures, as well as implementing other necessary changes.

Currently, the workplace safety agency has an ongoing inspection at the Ultium facility following a fire on June 27, as well as three additional inquiries.

One of these inquiries concerns a report that the company exposed workers to chemicals when a pressure gauge failed in August, leading to battery slurry leaking onto the plant floor.

OSHA has issued a total of 11 citations against the plant since its inception in 2022.

By Michael Elkins | [email protected]

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