Ydy Cabada, the wife of a SpaceX technician who suffered a skull fracture during a rocket engine malfunction in January 2022, has filed a lawsuit against the company for negligence, according to Reuters.
Incident Details
The injured employee, Francisco Cabada, sustained severe head trauma and was hospitalized in a coma following the incident, as documented in an accident investigation summary by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The malfunction occurred while Cabada was conducting checks on a Raptor V2 engine at SpaceX’s Hawthorne, California site.
Lawsuit Filing
Ydy Cabada initiated the lawsuit on behalf of her husband in a state court in Los Angeles, California. Francisco Cabada, a father of three, remains in a coma since the accident, as reported by Reuters. Representatives for SpaceX and Ydy Cabada’s attorney, Michael Rand, have not responded to requests for comment.
Safety Concerns at SpaceX
SpaceX has faced allegations of systemic safety shortcomings at its facilities. A Reuters investigation revealed over 600 worker injuries at SpaceX since 2014. Furthermore, the investigation highlighted significantly higher injury rates at SpaceX’s facilities compared to industry averages. Musk reportedly discouraged the use of yellow safety clothing among employees due to his preference for muted colors, according to statements from SpaceX workers to Reuters.
As the lawsuit unfolds, it underscores broader concerns regarding workplace safety practices within SpaceX and raises questions about accountability and responsibility in the aerospace industry.
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