Workplace safety data reported to the US government for 2023 indicates that SpaceX's injury rate continues to exceed the industry average.
The report finds the injury rate at Elon Musk's SpaceX alarmingly high
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) disclosed the figures, which were picked up by Reuters. Biz injury rates in 2023 varied by facility, from 1.5 injuries per 100 workers at SpaceX's Redmond facility to 7.6 for rocket recovery on the West Coast.
For reference, the space industry average was 0.8 injuries per 100 workers, meaning the rate at SpaceX's West Coast rocket recovery arm was nearly 10 times worse than average.
On the one hand, SpaceX is a leading player in the US private space industry right now, so perhaps it is expected to experience more damage than others. On the other hand, OSHA also revealed that overall injuries at SpaceX were on the rise. The Cape Canaveral and Redmond facilities averaged 0.9 and 0.8 injuries per 100 workers in 2022, but by 2023 this rose to 2.5 and 1.5, respectively. In terms of industry averages, the current injury rate is arguably undesirable.
