The Department of Labor cited SK Battery America for seven health and safety violations at its Commerce, Georgia, facility last week, proposing $75,449 in penalties against the battery maker.
SK Battery America, which employs about 3,100 people at its two battery manufacturing plants in Commerce, is a subsidiary of South Korea-based electric vehicle battery manufacturer SK On.
Inspectors from the federal agency’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated SK Battery’s site between June 26 and Nov. 7, 2023, according to the citation. OSHA inspectors found the Commerce facility exposed workers to respiratory hazards when working with cobalt, nickel and manganese, key components in the company’s electric vehicle batteries.
The company failed to complete a workplace hazard assessment for using the chemicals, did not provide employees with proper safety equipment, such as eyewash stations and emergency showers, and did not ensure that respirators used when working with the materials were properly cleaned and stored.
“The lithium battery industry has experienced unprecedented growth, and with that growth comes a heightened responsibility to ensure the safety of those at the forefront of innovation,” OSHA Area Office Director Joshua Turner in Atlanta-East said in a statement. “SK Battery America Inc. is well aware that materials used to produce lithium batteries can cause debilitating and permanent health issues.”
In addition to chemical-related safety issues, OSHA inspectors found the Commerce facility exposed workers to unsafe noise levels. The agency cited the plant for failure to develop a hearing monitoring program as required by law.
OSHA generally does not disclose what prompts its facility investigations, a spokesperson told Manufacturing Dive in a Jan. 23 email.
“OSHA’s continued efforts to identify and remain vigilant to these emerging hazards is key in helping the industry understand how to eliminate employee exposures in the workplace,” Turner said in a statement. “No employer should overlook the reality that is not just about advancing technology; it is about prioritizing the safety of your employees.”
SK Battery contested OSHA’s findings before the federal agency’s review commission, according to the Labor Department’s Jan. 17 press release.
“At SK Battery America, safety remains the utmost priority for our workers,” a company spokesperson said in an email to Manufacturing Dive. “SK Battery America has procedures in place that comply with workplace safety regulations. While we are in discussions regarding the findings and are reviewing the matter, SK Battery America will work closely with officials to ensure any lasting concerns are appropriately addressed.”
