OSHA investigates fatality at Rivian warehouse

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation into the death of a worker at a Rivian warehouse in Illinois this week, the federal agency told TechCrunch on Friday. The agency said the investigation could take up to six months.

The man, identified as 61-year-old Kevin Lancaster, died from “fatal injuries” after being pinned between a tractor trailer and a loading dock at the site, which is located a few kilometers from the Rivian factory.

Lancaster says he was trapped at the scene for about 20 minutes Thursday before firefighters got to him. according to a local report. Emergency services responded to the call at 1:40 p.m. local time, and Lancaster was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital at 2:33 p.m. local time.

It is unclear whether Lancaster worked for Rivian or another company. Rivian did not immediately respond to a request for comment. TechCrunch will update this story if the company responds.

The security of the Rivian factory in Normal, Illinois became a source of light in 2024 later. Bloomberg News reports detailing 16 “major” violations filed against the company throughout the year and in the past.

The auto industry is particularly dangerous, however, and Rivian has received only one violation at its Illinois manufacturing facility since the report was published. OSHA also told Bloomberg at the time that Rivian “will support their safety and health team and is in full compliance with OSHA’s approach.”

Rivian assembles its R1 luxury vehicle, the R1 SUV, and an electric commercial vehicle, called the EDV, at its 4.3 million square-foot factory in Normal. The company is expanding the facility by 1.1 million square meters to make room for its next EV, the R2. When completed, the factory will have the capacity to assemble 215,000 vehicles.

Normal Police and the McLean County Coroner are still investigating Thursday’s death, according to a local report.