- A Portal investigation found over 600 unknown workplace accidents at SpaceX.
- Workers cited in the investigation said the unsafe workplace was a result of Elon Musk’s aggressive work expectations in pursuit of the Mars mission.
- The report collected data on workplace safety through previously unreported injury logs, public records and interviews with current and former employees.
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrives for a bipartisan U.S. Senate forum on artificial intelligence at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on September 13, 2023.
Andrew Caballero Reynolds | AFP | Getty Images
SpaceX employees have put their lives on the line to meet the aggressive pace demanded by Chief Executive Elon Musk for a Mars mission, according to a Portal investigation.
The report documents over 600 previously undisclosed workplace accidents at SpaceX facilities since 2014, representing only a portion of the total that is not publicly available, according to Portal.
Portal examined injury logs and public records at the company’s six largest facilities. SpaceX had previously failed to report many injury data, violating regulatory standards. The investigation also included interviews with dozens of current and former SpaceX employees.
Injury data collected by Portal shows more than 100 workers suffered cuts or lacerations, 29 had broken or dislocated bones, 17 had their hands and fingers crushed and nine suffered a serious head injury.
The unsafe work environment is a result of Musk’s view that SpaceX is on the front lines of saving humanity from a deteriorating planet, workers told Portal. He has shortened work deadlines and forced employees to work long hours at a fast pace.
To increase productivity, employees also said SpaceX avoids “some level of bureaucracy.” According to employee reports from the investigation, senior SpaceX managers circumvented safety protocols and product testing. These shortcuts resulted in serious injuries, causing employees to fall into comas and sometimes even die.
The decline in workplace safety at SpaceX and the accelerated pace of work reflect the rat race of the space industry as a whole, in which SpaceX is typically considered the top player.
SpaceX, which makes rockets and operates Starlink, a satellite internet provider, has seen rapid growth. It is currently valued at over $100 billion. Some expect the company to go public by 2027.
But as competition in the industry becomes increasingly fierce, investment in space travel has declined over the past year. Industry-wide pressure has become a reason why companies like SpaceX are putting increasing pressure on being first to innovate.
Read the full Portal investigation here.