Employees at Gigafactory 2 in Buffalo, New York, complained of a bed bug infestation, Carscoops reports. According to the publication, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has received dozens of complaints from employees both about pests and about the actions of company management. The outbreak began on Thursday, November 9, and top managers initially did not respond to workers’ concerns.
Workers took photos and videos of dead bedbugs and the bugs scurrying around their feet. “My biggest concern is that they will be held accountable for not responding quickly,” said one employee, who wished to remain anonymous.
OSHA said attempts to contact plant management were unsuccessful. Each time, management responded that they were looking into the issue, but there was no feedback, a representative of the organization said.
However, OSHA complaints and intervention appear to have prompted management to take action. They hired an exterminator to get rid of the bedbugs, but then the factory workers faced a new problem. After disinsection, the chemicals lay as a film on people’s furniture and clothes, which caused allergies.
Workers were assured that the chemical became harmless to people 15 minutes after spraying. Despite this, their eyes began to burn and swell, they experienced breathing problems, dizziness and nausea. As a result, the victims had to take vacations and sick leave at their own expense.
How exactly the conflict will be resolved is still unknown. OSHA said it is looking into whether Tesla complied with chemical regulations.
Insects can harm not only industries, and not only people. Several years ago, more than 2.5 thousand Chevrolet Tahoes and GMC Yukons were damaged by the skins of mayflies, winged insects that usually live near bodies of water. They ruined the paint on new SUVs that were stored in a lake parking lot.
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