Rivian's Illinois Factory is Reportedly A Pretty Dangerous Place to Work

by Chris Teague

Published: October 23rd, 2024

rivian s illinois factory is reportedly a pretty dangerous place to work

Many automakers operate manufacturing facilities around the world and have to manage health and safety for tens of thousands of employees. Rivian only has one factory, but its track record for safety is one of the worst in the industry. The company has seen more “serious” safety violations than any other automaker since the start of 2023.

Some of the injuries sound pretty serious, too. Automotive News reported that the facility has recorded an employee with a cracked skull, a back laceration requiring surgery, an amputated finger, and a foot fracture, among others. There have also allegedly been injuries not reported to the government. One person told Bloomberg News that they vomited bile with a “Rivian Blue” color after working in the paint shop without a respirator.

Over the past 21 months, Rivian has racked up initial citations for 16 serious violations. In comparison, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) gave significantly larger automakers like Toyota, Honda, Volvo, Nissan, GM, and Ford no more than 10 each, while VW, BMW, and Subaru had none.

A Rivian statement said, “The health and safety of everyone at Rivian is our top priority, and we’re proud of our strong safety record – which continues to improve year over year.” Despite that, the company’s past and current employees tell a different story, one of a struggling automaker willing to cut costs at the expense of safety.

[Images: Rivian]

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Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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2 of 5 comments

AZFelix 9 hours ago
Rivian charges $2500 for that paint color option. I wonder what the break even point is for the bean counters when you factor in fines, workers' compensation, lawsuits, and image rehabilitation by the marketing department versus PPE and the number of vehicles ordered in that hue?

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Lou_BC 2 hours ago
This article is meaningless without reporting the facts around each incident. 16 incidents versus an average of 10. Is it because Rivian is new to the game?

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Recent Comments

Jeff I might buy a new bicycle in the next year but a new vehicle no.
Lou_BC This article is meaningless without reporting the facts around each incident. 16 incidents versus an average of 10. Is it because Rivian is new to the game?
Lou_BC It would encourage indebtedness. Start a business if you want more write-offs.
Bullnuke This is bogus. I specifically remember being told by an American Honda area manager that all Honda vehicles are perfectly designed and built completely without flaws and are perfect in all respects when driven off the dealership lots. Any issues occurring after that, including the reverse gear teeth being milled off during operation of this perfect vehicle with 8k miles on the clock, are due to owner irresponsibility, misuse, and abuse. That'll be $3200 for this perfect Honda transmission, please.
AZFelix Since hydrogen is a less dense gas similar to helium, expect a final roller coaster of emotions when you start screaming in a high-pitched squeaky voice "Oh the humanity! Oh the humanity!" as everything around you bursts into flames.