There is a bed bug infestation at Tesla’s Gigafactory in South Buffalo, New York, according to the workers there. To make matters worse, the New York Post reports that management may have sprayed the facility with dangerous chemicals that haven’t worked and are sickening the staff.
A Tesla worker sent WKBW Buffalo a video of a bed insect she said was crawling across the floor of her workstation. She told the reporter, “I feel like they’re treating people as not human,” in an anonymous statement. Employees must share their experiences anonymously due to non-disclosure agreements.
According to an OSHA representative who talked with WKBW, the Gigafactory had been the subject of numerous complaints about bed bugs. Nevertheless, whenever OSHA had questions, management would respond by saying it was investigating the issue but failing to provide a response.
The Post claims that the company’s chemical spraying in the workplace only served to make workers ill, adding insult to physical injury. There was still residue sprayed on the backs of the chairs, and it seemed that the workers could smell chemicals in the air.
“Because there was no prior notice, it was white and appeared almost like a film on the backs of some people’s chairs and jackets.”
Workers informed the publication that supervisors and fellow employees had informed them that the chemical sprayed was Steri-Fab.
The website for Steri-Fab states that it takes 15 minutes for a sprayed surface to dry before it is safe to touch. Before then, it can irritate skin and eyes and be dangerous to touch or breathe.
Employees on Autopilot software and at the 1.2 million square foot factory that supplies Tesla Solar Roofs and Supercharges report to WKBW that they are experiencing adverse chemical reactions.
One Tesla employee told WKBW, “My eyes and a few coworkers’ started burning, they also got very puffy and I started to have some breathing issues.”
“Many other workers including myself had symptoms of dizziness along with throat swelling, nausea, and burning eyes,” a second employee wrote in an email to the site.
The employee continued, “I don’t feel comfortable being around potentially toxic chemicals,” pointing out that workers have been using paid time off or sick days to avoid coming into the office.
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According to WKBW, Osha claims to be looking into the circumstances at the Gigafactory but does not have any particular workplace regulations regarding bed bugs. It will now investigate if Tesla used any chemicals under the correct limits.
