Elon Musk’s Tunnel Construction Faces Tough Scrutiny as OSHA Found Eight “Serious” Safety Violations

By Moon Harper

Feb 27, 2024 12:13 AM EST

According to a recent Bloomberg report, workers at The Boring Company faced chemical burns and close-call accidents while building the Las Vegas tunnel system.

Dark Side of Construction

According to the report, workers endured 12-hour shifts in tunnels with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The Las Vegas tunnels, initially a 1.7-mile loop linking the Las Vegas Conventions Center, were opened in 2021. Elon Musk's tunneling company aimed to extend the network to include Resorts World on the Strip, a nearby airport, and Allegiant Stadium.

During the expansion, workers said they had to walk through around two feet of muddy chemicals that left some staff burned and scarred, as reported by Bloomberg, referring to an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. According to Bloomberg, one worker compared the sensation of the chemicals on their skin to being "on fire."

OSHA's Eight "Serious" Violations

There have been near-miss incidents at the construction site. Last summer, an intern at The Boring Company was almost crushed when a container holding two tons of concrete broke, and an incident where the brakes on a forklift failed, where a worker could have been pinned under the machine if he had not been wearing his seatbelt.

Nevada's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found eight serious violations and fined the Boring Company $112,504. However, the company disputed OSHA's claims in November, stating that the organization could not prove the alleged violations occurred. The Boring Company spokesperson did not reply to requests for comment from Business Insider or Bloomberg.

The Tunneling Company

Musk founded the tunneling company in 2016 to address traffic congestion. While it has an R&D tunnel in Hawthorne, California, its only active commercial site is in Las Vegas, which shuttles people using Teslas between the Convention Center and nearby attractions.

The tunnels, meant to link the Encore Las Vegas and the Westgate hotels, have faced numerous difficulties. Critics, including ex-workers, worry about the company's safety methods and tunneling effectiveness. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman doubts the project's schedule. The city, famous for its quick changes, closely monitors the uncertain future of this significant infrastructure work.

Musk's Growing Labor Practice Scrutiny

This is not the first instance of Musk's companies facing potential worker safety issues. A Reuters investigation last year found that SpaceX employees worked more than 80 hours per week and had high injury rates due to Musk's "maniacal sense of urgency." The billionaire is known for running his companies with high intensity, often calling for intense work sessions and even sleeping on the factory floor at Tesla.

As the Boring Company grapples with safety issues and violations, its plan to link Vegas landmarks underground faces uncertainty, which could either revolutionize city travel or show the risks of overambition. Las Vegas waits to see if Musk's venture will succeed or be a cautionary tale.