Elon Musk, Tesla’s chief executive, responded this month at the annual shareholders meeting to reports that injuries at the automaker’s plant in Fremont are well above that of other companies in the industry.
The head of the luxury electric car maker spoke about the subject shortly after a report that Tesla’s worker injury rate was more than 30 percent above the industry average at its Fremont manufacturing location (its only one) in 2015. That rate dropped last year, and seems to have dropped still further in the first quarter of this year.
Musk acknowledged that employees suffer injuries while doing their jobs. However, he claimed that the injury rate is actually about one-third below that of other vehicle manufacturers. He also told shareholders and others in the audience, “I’m meeting with our safety team every week. We’re well on our way to an injury rate that’s less than half of the auto industry.”
According to Musk, one of the changes that has already been made is to increase the number of shifts from two to three for employees who work on the factory floor. He says that this change will help prevent factory workers from losing focus because they are tired.
Speaking at the Computer History Museum, Musk also discussed upcoming new models that will be affordable for more consumers.
As companies grow and change, it’s essential that their safety measures keep up with their growth and that they have enough employees to keep up with increased demand while being able to do their jobs in a safe manner.
Source: The Mercury News, “Elon Musk says Tesla is ‘on its way’ to lowering employees’ injury rate,” Rex Crum, June 07, 2017