Federal safety inspectors have hit multiple third-party contractors at Samsung’s massive Taylor chip complex with citations after finding missing fall protections and other safety lapses on the construction site. The enforcement follows the Feb. 11 death of a contractor at the campus and came after federal investigators reviewed elevated work areas. Regulators have proposed tens of thousands of dollars in penalties against the subcontractors involved.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, OSHA has issued roughly $58,920 in proposed penalties to third-party firms tied to the project, with one subcontractor shouldering the largest share. The paper reports that the agency flagged failures to install proper fall-protection systems on a raised catwalk more than six feet above the ground.
OSHA's findings on fall protection
According to OSHA, inspectors cited Jungdo America for three serious violations tied to missing fall-protection systems on a raised catwalk. Each citation initially carried a $13,240 penalty, for an initial total of $39,720. The agency’s online record lists the inspection as a referral that closed in April and shows adjusted penalties after an informal settlement.
Worker's death and local investigation
Local officials say a third-party contractor died at the Samsung campus on Feb. 11, and the Williamson County Death Investigation Office later released the worker’s name and reported the death resulted from injuries sustained in a fall, according to the Taylor Press. Samsung has said it is cooperating with local and federal investigators.
Where the fines fit in a massive project
The citations arrive as construction continues on Samsung’s $17 billion Taylor campus, a project that city documents say has supported thousands of construction jobs and is slated to begin limited production by the end of 2026. The Austin American-Statesman reports that some subcontractors did not respond to requests for comment and that Samsung declined to provide additional details about the citations.
Legal implications for contractors
Under federal rules, employers have 15 working days from receipt of a citation and proposed penalty to file a written notice of contest or request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director. Cases can then proceed to the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, per the U.S. Department of Labor. That process gives contractors an administrative path to dispute penalties or negotiate abatement timelines.
What comes next
OSHA’s separate inspection record for Samsung E&C America at the Taylor campus remains open, and the agency notes that citation items are normally posted after employers receive the proposed penalty notice. The outcome of the ongoing inspections will determine whether additional fines or abatement orders are issued to other subcontractors on the site.
