Bed bugs have infiltrated Tesla's New York factory, wreaking havoc on workers at the facility. Management at the factory located in Buffalo have allegedly tried to combat the infestation by spraying toxic chemicals that have been unsuccessful at terminating the bugs and is even making workers ill.
The infestation reportedly started on Oct. 9, as bed bugs began to crawl into the workspaces of employees at the factory. Numerous complaints from employees have prompted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to launch an investigation into the facility after receiving multiple calls.
Several Tesla employees are turning to @WKBW for help -- frustrated over what they're calling a bed bug infestation at Tesla Gigafactory 2 in South Buffalo
— Derek Heid (@DerekHeid) November 15, 2023
One Tesla employee shared this video of a bed bug she says was crawling on the floor of her workspace
Full Story at 6pm 📺 pic.twitter.com/jO6T7AI5VG
OSHA claims that it has been reaching out to management at the facility, which have allegedly not been following up with the administration’s calls after initially confirming with OSHA that they are taking care of the situation. OSHA also said that it does not have any standards for bedbugs in the workplace.
Bed bug infestations usually start from the bugs hitchhiking from one infested source to another. They can cling to backpacks, purses, used furniture, etc. and can cause symptoms such as itching, allergic reactions and even skin infections.
Insecticides such as Pyrethrins and pyrethroids are most commonly used to tackle bed bug infestations. Workers at the factory claim that management has told them that they are using an insecticide called Steri-fab to treat the outbreak, which needs roughly 15 minutes to dry before one could come in contact with it or else it can cause irritation to the skin and eyes. But workers said that they are still feeling irritation beyond those 15 minutes.
“Many other workers including myself had symptoms of dizziness as well as throat swelling, nausea and burning eyes,” said an anonymous worker at the factory, according to WKBW.
The Tesla factory in Buffalo has over 1,500 employees across its 1.2 million square foot facility. According to WKBW, OSHA said that it will now be looking into how the chemical pesticides are being used at the factory and whether or not proper protocols were followed.
Get exclusive access to portfolio managers and their proven investing strategies with Real Money Pro. Get started now.
