Ultium Cells has informed the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that it is challenging fines amounting to more than $270,000 in health and safety fines.

According to the Department of Labor website, the Lordstown electric vehicle battery manufacturer informed OSHA late last month that it is contesting 19 claims of safety and health violations.

Looking into the March 2023 explosion and fire at Ultium,  OSHA opened four separate inspections in less than two weeks.

OSHA proposed $270,091 in penalties and issued the company a hazard alert letter asking them to voluntarily reduce accumulations of metal dust and protect employees from unsafe metal dust exposure.

Ultium Cells is a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution broke ground in 2019 and began making EV batteries in August of 2022.

Inspections by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration at Ultium Cells LLC led to the citing the company for 17 serious and two other-than-serious safety and health violations. OSHA inspectors found the company exposed workers to machine and chemical hazards by failing to use and train workers on safety and emergency response procedures. 

The Department of Labor also alleges Ultium Cells did not comply with federally required safety standards for the use of personal protective equipment, including respirators.

The inspections, which took place between April 24 and May 5, 2023.

OSHA inspectors found the company failed to:

  • Periodically test energy control procedures for various equipment.
  • Install required machine guarding.
  • Train workers in hazardous energy control procedures.
  • Provide safe access and egress for packing employees, who were exposed to trip and fall hazards.
  • Train workers in emergency response operations, including the release of hazardous N-Methylpyrrolidone. 
  • Coordinate emergency responses with an incident response system.
  • Provide respiratory protection from exposure to hazardous chemicals that can cause numbness, dizziness, and nausea.
  • Train workers on the physical and health risks of hazardous chemicals used in the workplace.
  • Provide safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals.
  • Store chemicals in labeled containers.
  • Select appropriate personal protective equipment and provide training on the use of PPE for potential exposure to chemical hazards, such as electrolyte and dried coating material. 
  • Provide eye wash stations, emergency showers, and hand protection.
  • Inform employees of their right to report workplace injuries and illnesses.
  • Allow an employee to freely report an injury.

OSHA has one open inspection at the facility following a June 27 fire and three inquiries, including a report that the company exposed workers to airborne chemicals in the cathode mixing area after a pressure gauge failed, resulting in battery slurry leaking onto the plant floor on August 20.

OSHA has cited the Lordstown plant 11 times so far.

Ultium Cells currently has facilities under construction in Indiana and Michigan.