"Tesla fined for ‘serious’ heat violation at California plant"

Tesla has been fined for violating California’s workplace heat protection rules at its Fremont plant.

... state regulators categorized the company’s violation as “serious,” meaning it could result in injury, illness or death.

The findings stem from Tesla’s failure to provide employees working outdoors with adequate cooldown breaks in shaded areas, according to a citation issued by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, known as Cal/OSHA, in December.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Cal/OSHA did not provide specifics on the conditions workers experienced at the Fremont plant.

The citation references a section of California’s heat safety rules that mandate that employees be allowed and encouraged to take cooldown rests in the shade when they feel the need to do so to prevent themselves from overheating. Any employee who takes this type of preemptive break is supposed to be monitored for symptoms of heat illness by a supervisor and should not be asked to return to work until symptoms have subsided.

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