Investigators found 19 safety and health violations at a General Motors joint venture electric vehicle battery plant in Ohio over two weeks this year, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday.
The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed a $270,000 fine against Ultium Cells LLC for alleged violations at a recently opened plant in Warren, Ohio.
The plant, a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution, has been built Making batteries in 2021.
The U.S. Department of Labor said inspectors found Ultium Cells did not meet federal safety standards for the use of personal protective equipment such as respirators. They also found that the company failed to install guards on machines, train workers on hazardous energy control procedures and failed to provide eyewash stations, emergency showers and hand protection, among other violations.
“Ultium Cells’ technology and advanced manufacturing facilities are part of an emerging field, but workplace safety standards such as machine guarding, personal protective equipment and emergency response training have been the law for decades,” OSHA Cleveland Regional Director Howard Eberts said in a statement .
The agency said Ultium Cells has 15 business days from the date it received the subpoena to comply, request an informal meeting or challenge the findings to the independent committee.
Ultium Cells said in a statement Thursday that it requested a hearing with OSHA. “We look forward to a constructive dialogue with OSHA and hope to resolve these issues quickly and reinforce our commitment to fostering a safety-first mentality among all Ultium team members,” the company said.
Authorities began investigating the plant after an explosion and fire in March. The statement said four inspections were conducted between April 24 and May 5.
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