The victim, who was identified by county officials as Allen Kowalski, 27, worked for a subcontractor at the project. He reportedly died after being struck by a load that unexpectedly fell as it was being unloaded from the forklift. The victim’s employer was not identified. No other injuries were reported.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident. In a statement expressing condolences to the worker’s family, friends and colleagues, LG Energy Solutions noted that “the health and safety of our larger team is our highest priority, and we are committed to following all Occupational Industrial Safety and Health Policies. Together with our subcontractor and relevant authorities, we are fully supporting a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of the incident and to help prevent such accidents in the future.”

The fatality occurred less than two months after another forklift-related incident at the battery plant resulted in the death of a 45-year-old subcontractor employee. That incident also remains under investigation.

Hyundai is listed as architect and general contractor for the $7.6-billion Metaplant’s 11 facilities, which broke ground in late 2022. Approximately six months later, in April 2023, 34-year-old Victor Javier Cajija Gamboa, an employee of steel contractor Eastern Constructors Inc. of Geismar, La., died while accessing the top beam of an open-web structural steel frame for the 16-million-sq-ft EV assembly plant.

According to the OSHA investigation report, the employee lost his balance while walking along the steel I-beam. The beam cut the personal fall arrest lanyard, and the employee fell 60 ft to the ground. The report concluded that the employee was killed due to blunt force trauma, and Eastern Constructors was penalized more than $20,000 for safety violations, which included one willful and one serious violation. OSHA also added Eastern Constructors to its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, ENR reported.

Local media say OSHA has opened at least 15 investigations related to activities at the 2,906-acre site. In addition to the three fatalities, incidents reportedly have included employees struck by moving objects, falls, an electrocution and, in March of this year, a pipe explosion that caused serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America held the facility's grand opening on March 26, and the first Hyundai vehicles have already rolled off the assembly line. The facility has an initial annual production capacity of 300,000 units, plus the capability for further expansion, according to the company. The HL-GA battery plant is scheduled to begin full operation next year. According to Hyundai, the Metaplant will be powered entirely by renewable energy, including 5.2 MW of solar power generated by solar panels positioned by the nearly 1,900-vehicle parking area.