US says SK Battery faces $77,200 in fines over worker health hazards

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Tiafx) -The U.S. Labor Department stated on Monday that SK Battery The United States faces $77,200 in fines for five serious security violations after workers in Georgia suffered potentially eternal respiratory damage in an October 2023 lithium battery fire.

Here is the 2d violation seek issued by the department in latest months.

In January, the department’s Occupational Security and Smartly being Administration (OSHA) stated SK Battery exposed workers at a U.S. battery plant to unsafe phases of nickel and other metals, and faces $75,000 in fines over six serious violations. SK, which affords Volkswagen (ETR:VOWG_p) and Ford Motor (NYSE:F), employs 3,100 workers at its Commerce, Georgia plant.

“On more than one occasions in decrease than a twelve months, we get stumbled on SK Battery The United States failing in their responsibility to fulfill required federal requirements designed to again every worker terminate their shift safely,” stated OSHA Divulge Divulge of job Director Joshua Turner in a press unlock on Monday. “When employers fail to produce safe and healthful locations of work, OSHA will help them to blame.”

SK Battery The United States in a press unlock stated on Monday that it “is working diligently to evaluate the points raised and unravel any questions with the last aim of worker security.” The firm stated that it has “comprehensive security protocols and training capabilities.”

The firm is a subsidiary of SK On, a world EV battery manufacturer and a unit of SK Innovation that is section of SK Team, the 2d-greatest conglomerate in South Korea.

SK Battery The United States failed to correct now disclose on Monday. The firm has challenged the findings from the quotation issued in January earlier than the just Occupational Security and Smartly being Review Commission, the department stated.

OSHA stated following the October 2023 fire, that SK Battery “did not bid its workers on straightforward be taught how to guard themselves adequately in the poisonous ambiance that left more than one workers injured.”

OSHA stated SK “exposed workers to inhalation hazards, in conjunction with hydrofluoric acid vapors produced in lithium battery fires, by failing to study a complete emergency response thought.”

It also stated SK Battery failed to be definite its staffing agency Moveret Inc that supplied workers at the region made “their workers wakeful of the hazards connected with lithium battery fires.” Moveret might maybe well perchance not correct now be reached for disclose.

OSHA stated in January that SK Battery had exposed workers “working with cobalt, nickel and manganese to respiratory hazards by failing to complete a self-discipline of business hazard analysis; be definite workers get been given neat, disinfected and sanitary respirators; and store respirators well.”