EV battery manufacturer fined $77K after workers suffer respiratory damage in lithium battery fire
An OSHA investigation has determined that SK Battery America Inc. exposed employees to serious safety and health hazards. The investigation began after a lithium battery fire in October 2023 that caused workers to suffer potentially permanent respiratory damage. The electric vehicle battery manufacturer failed to train its employees on how to protect themselves adequately in the toxic atmosphere caused by the fire.
SK Battery was cited for five serious violations, including exposing workers to inhalation hazards, failing to train workers on hazardous chemicals in their work areas, and not training on-site emergency responders and members of the fire brigade on hazards associated with lithium battery fires. For these violations, the company faces $77,200 in proposed penalties. This is the second time in less than a year that the company has been investigated by OSHA.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, OSHA Area Office Director Joshua Turner said, “On multiple occasions in less than a year, we have found SK Battery America failing in their responsibility to meet required federal standards designed to help every worker end their shift safely. While emerging industries bring innovation and employment opportunities to our communities, they must also ensure that the safety of the people they employ is their priority. When employers fail to provide safe and healthful workplaces, OSHA will hold them accountable.”
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About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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