In 2023, SpaceX sites reported injury rates higher than the industry norm, according to a recent review of safety data submitted to US regulators, showing that some locations had even higher rates of injuries than in the previous year.
A Reuters report highlighted that at SpaceX’s facility in Brownsville, Texas, the injury rate climbed to 5.9 per 100 workers from 4.8 in 2022, significantly exceeding the industry average of 0.8 injuries.
This report follows a Reuters investigation that discovered over 600 unreported worker injuries in 2023, some resulting in severe consequences like crushed limbs, amputations, and one fatality.
Safety specialists suggest that these elevated injury figures should concern SpaceX’s customers, including NASA, which has invested billions in the company’s services.
Rising safety concerns at SpaceX prompt calls for transparency and accountability
David Michaels, a former head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and professor at George Washington University, stated that high injury rates could indicate substandard production processes, advising NASA to be wary of these figures. NASA, however, has not commented on these findings.
Experts suggest that SpaceX’s ability to offer more cost-effective launch options than NASA might stem from its willingness to take greater risks and cut corners, something that NASA cannot do due to its reliance on public funding.
OSHA has not commented on the situation, but Reuters used data from the agency to show that in 2023, SpaceX reported injuries from eight key facilities, up from five the previous year.
Particularly troubling was the report from a SpaceX division responsible for retrieving rocket boosters from the Pacific Ocean, which had an injury rate of 7.6 per 100 workers, significantly higher than the industry average.
Despite these troubling statistics, SpaceX and its CEO, Elon Musk, have not extensively addressed these safety concerns publicly. Gwynne Shotwell, the COO of SpaceX, affirmed the company’s commitment to safety, stressing in a social media post that the safety of astronauts and staff is their utmost priority.
As safety concerns at SpaceX facilities remain, stakeholders are urging for increased transparency and responsibility to safeguard workers’ welfare and the integrity of space missions.