The Department of Labor cited SK Battery America for safety violations at its Commerce, Georgia, facility last week, proposing $77,200 in penalties against the battery maker.
The federal agency’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration inspectors found the Commerce facility exposed 13 workers to respiratory hazards when a lithium battery fire occurred at the plant in October 2023, according to the citation. Inhaling the hazardous vapors can cause pneumonitis and pulmonary edema, which can be fatal.
It’s the second round of safety citations leveled against the company in less than six months, after it was cited for exposing workers to health hazards at the Commerce site in December.
“On multiple occasions in less than a year, we have found SK Battery America failing in their responsibility to meet required federal standards designed to help every worker end their shift safely,” OSHA Area Office Director in Atlanta-East Joshua Turner said in a statement.
OSHA inspectors investigated SK Battery America’s site between October 23, 2023, and the issuance of the citations on March 15, a Labor Department spokesperson told Manufacturing Dive in an email.
The inhalation of hazardous vapors was a result of SK Battery America’s failure to establish an emergency response plan, OSHA said. The company failed to train employees and on-site emergency responders on how to safely navigate such an emergency, leaving multiple people injured, according to the department.
The SK On subsidiary also failed to conduct an annual fit test to ensure facepiece respirators fit correctly. It also did not ensure its staffing agency Moveret made employees aware of lithium battery fire hazards.
“While emerging industries bring innovation and employment opportunities to our communities, they must also ensure that the safety of the people they employ is their priority,” Turner said.
SK Battery America employs about 3,100 people at its two battery manufacturing plants in Commerce, the Labor Department said in the release.
“The safety and well-being of our employees is the top priority for SK Battery America,” the company said in a statement to Manufacturing Dive. “We have comprehensive safety protocols and training programs designed to ensure a safe working environment. SK Battery America is working diligently to assess the issues raised and resolve any questions with the ultimate goal of employee safety.”
The October fire is not the first allegedly caused by SK Battery America’s materials. Georgia-based recycling company Metro Site filed a lawsuit against the EV battery maker in July for allegedly dumping charged pouch cell lithium-ion batteries into a non-hazardous roll-off container bound for Metro Site’s facility.
A fire broke out and burned down Metro Site’s facility, according to the lawsuit. The company is seeking $26.6 million in compensatory damages and attorney fees; a trial date is set for August, according to an SK Battery spokesperson.
