Workers at a large electric vehicle (EV) battery plant project in southwestern Ontario, which is receiving public subsidies, have been exposed to various health and safety risks, according to government records obtained by CBC News. The documents reveal that provincial inspectors have made numerous visits to the construction site since its inception in 2022 and have issued over 100 orders related to health and safety concerns to NextStar Energy, the company overseeing the project.
Among the issues found were high levels of carbon monoxide, electrical hazards, and flooded parking areas. Failure to comply with the orders issued under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) could result in significant fines and potential imprisonment. NextStar Energy, a collaboration between automaker Stellantis and battery company LG Energy Solution, has addressed most of the recent orders but is still working on two of them.
The concerns regarding health and safety have escalated to the provincial government level, with Labor Minister David Piccini meeting with building trade unions involved in the project to discuss potential solutions. The unions were urged to consider having a stronger presence of labor inspectors on-site regularly to address the issues raised.
The battery plant project, which aims to create around 2,500 jobs and is receiving substantial government incentives, has faced a series of challenges. Despite the issues raised by workers and companies, NextStar reiterated its commitment to meeting industry standards and requirements, highlighting the successful completion of the construction phase and receiving an occupancy permit for the facility.
The records obtained through freedom-of-information requests and field visit reports indicate that health and safety enforcement actions have been ongoing at the NextStar site. Inspections have revealed concerns such as air quality issues due to the use of gas- and diesel-powered equipment indoors, inadequate ventilation, and lack of washroom accessibility within required distances.
Furthermore, persistent problems related to electrical safety procedures, supervision, and water accumulation have been flagged multiple times. The project has faced stop work orders, complaints about flooded parking lots, and other safety-related issues that have prompted interventions from the Ministry of Labour.
Despite the challenges, NextStar remains optimistic about commencing battery cell production in the near future, emphasizing the collaborative efforts involving thousands of Canadian trades workers in the construction process.
