Austin, Texas – A federal workplace safety investigation has found significant safety violations at Simwon NA Corp., a Kyle, Texas-based vehicle parts manufacturer. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) determined that the company ignored repeated safety concerns from employees, exposing them to hazardous working conditions, including unsafe machine operations, fall risks, and inadequate personal protective equipment.
Simwon NA Corp., a subsidiary of South Korea’s Myung Shin Industries Co. Ltd., supplies vehicle doors for Tesla’s Giga Texas factory in Austin. The company operates a manufacturing facility in Kyle, about 22 miles from Austin, with approximately 120 employees. Simwon had initially planned to expand its workforce to 400 employees after signing a lease for the facility last year.
Following an inspection that began in June 2022, OSHA cited Simwon NA Corp. for multiple violations. These include one willful violation for failing to control hazardous energy, which could lead to sudden machine startups, and over a dozen serious citations for non-compliance with required machine safety procedures, confined space safety protocols, fall hazard prevention, and crane operation standards. OSHA has proposed a penalty of $298,338 for these violations.
“OSHA found that – despite concerns voiced by its workers – Simwon NA Corp. ignored serious safety issues, putting its workers at risk,” said OSHA Area Director Casey Perkins in Austin. “The company must act quickly to comply with federal safety standards before an employee suffers serious injury or worse.”
Simwon has 15 business days from receiving the citations to either comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Ensuring a safe and healthy workplace is a fundamental responsibility of all employers. Unfortunately, some companies fail to take necessary precautions, endangering their employees. If you or someone you know has suffered a workplace injury, seeking legal assistance is crucial. Our law firm is committed to advocating for injured workers and ensuring they receive the compensation and support they deserve. Contact us for more information.