US Lawmakers Call for Scrutiny of SpaceX Worker Safety Following Reuters Report

Three US lawmakers express deep concern over worker safety at SpaceX, urging greater scrutiny after a Reuters investigation revealed hundreds of workplace injuries at the company’s US facilities.

Congressional Concerns

Following a Reuters investigation that uncovered hundreds of unreported workplace injuries at Elon Musk’s SpaceX, three US lawmakers are pushing for closer examination of worker safety at the company’s manufacturing and launch sites. The report revealed at least 600 previously undocumented injuries since 2014, including severe incidents such as crushed limbs, amputations, and even a fatality.

Lawmakers’ Responses

Representative Zoe Lofgren, the leading Democrat on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, emphasized the need to take the report’s findings seriously, especially given the committee’s oversight of NASA’s budget and its contractors. Similarly, Democratic Representative Mark Takano and Donald Norcross both expressed deep concern over the revelations, with Takano calling for accountability for the affected workers and Norcross stressing the urgency for further investigation.

NASA’s Involvement

NASA, which has awarded SpaceX billions of dollars as a private space contractor, has yet to comment on the company’s safety record. However, they noted the option of enforcing contract provisions to ensure SpaceX maintains a robust safety program and culture. Additionally, former NASA deputy administrator Lori Garver called for NASA to closely examine the high worker injury rates at SpaceX, emphasizing the need to identify underlying causes and make necessary improvements.

SpaceX’s Response and Future Plans

While SpaceX did not address the lawmakers’ concerns or the reported injuries, the company’s upcoming test launch of the Starship, its next-generation spacecraft, is still on schedule despite the recent safety revelations.