Back in early 2024, the future Ford EV battery joint-venture plant in Kentucky – BlueOvalSK Battery Park – faced a bit of a crisis when mold was found both in the air and on wooden crates shipped from Korea containing factory equipment. This led to some workers becoming ill, though the CEO of that joint-venture, Michael Adams, was quick to note that the situation was being handled – adding that “the safety of all the employees on the site is paramount.” Now, that same under construction Ford joint-venture plant with South Korean battery maker SK On is facing another series of alleged safety issues.
After receiving a tip that BlueOvalSK Battery Park was experiencing a number of safety-related issues, the Courier Journal proceeded to investigate the matter, and found some rather eye-opening pieces of documentation. Some workers at the plant have filed occupational safety and health complaints that have since prompted 15 investigations from the state of Kentucky, and employees have also provided medical records revealing that dozens of them have suffered injuries on the workplace, along with various other safety concerns.
Those concerns pertain, in some cases, to lingering mold, along with a bat infestation at the site, emergency exit doors that are blocked, chemical exposure, and respiratory issues that have led to some workers winding up in the hospital. Some workers have expressed concerns that they will lose their jobs if they speak up about these issues – and at least one claims that they have already – but BlueOvalSK has thus far denied these allegations.
BlueOvalSK “follows strict federal, state, and local regulations to ensure our facilities are safe for employees and the surrounding communities,” spokesperson Mallory Cooke said in a statement. “BlueOval SK regularly evaluates safety practices and has an open-door policy with team members. Concerns are always investigated and addressed.” These same safety concerns are part of the reason why workers at BlueOvalSK filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board to join the UAW back in January, a move they say is due to concerns revolving around worker health, safety, and a lack of communication from the company itself.
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