Austin Injury Attorney Brooks Schuelke Notes That Factory Jobs Come With Risks

Tesla’s Gigafactory made headlines with its move to Texas. Now, the factory is making headlines for another reason: The family of a Gigafactory worker is suing Tesla and two other companies, alleging that the companies’ negligence led to the death of their family member.

The lawsuit alleges that the worker, a journeyman electrician, was inspecting an electrical panel at the Gigafactory plant when he was “immediately electrocuted”.The electrocution rendered him unconscious. He was transported to a local hospital, but medical staff pronounced him dead upon arrival. 

The lawsuit names Tesla along with two other companies: Belcan Services Group, the contractor that employed the deceased electrician, and Colorado River Project LLC, which owns the land on which Tesla’s Texas Gigafactory is built. 

The lawsuit also claims that the defendants did not allow the family to inspect the scene of the electrocution to gather or preserve evidence. Court filings request a temporary restraining order that prevents the defendants from altering, selling, salvaging, or destroying potential evidence. The family has also asked for an order to preserve the scene. 

The US Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) also announced an investigation but will not release additional information until it completes its work, according to the agency. 

The electrocuted worker is not the first Belcan contractor to experience fatal injuries in the Texas plant. In 2021, a worker died from heat exposure while working on the construction of the plant. 

To date, Tesla’s Texas Gigafactory ranks as one of the most dangerous workplaces in the United States. The factory reported over 1,000 injuries in 2023. Another Tesla Gigafactory, located in Fremont, California, has posted even higher injury rates for 2023. Contractors and temporary workers tend to face higher rates of injury and death on the job than full-time regular employees across all US industries and workplaces. 

“Workplace deaths are devastating for surviving family members,” says Austin personal injury attorney Brooks Schuelke. “Fighting for compensation can be difficult, but holding negligent companies accountable for their actions is often necessary. That’s why experienced injury lawyers are dedicated to protecting the rights of the families they represent.”