California Regulators Investigating Tesla After Report on Work Conditions

California's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) opened an investigation into Tesla Inc. (TSLA) on Tuesday, just days after a report from an investigative website alleged that the electric automaker failed to protect workers at its auto plant in Fremont, California.

On Sunday, Reveal alleged that Tesla neglected to report serious injuries on legally mandated reports in order to distort its health and safety track record. The website added that the tech giant undercounted and mis-labeled employee injuries and made reference to claims from former members of Tesla’s environment, health and safety team that CEO Elon Musk isn’t a big fan of using standard safety signs in the factory.

Cal/OSHA responded to these complaints by opening an investigation. “Cal/OSHA takes seriously reports of workplace hazards and allegations of employers' underreporting recordable work-related injuries and illnesses," the agency said in a statement.

Cal/OSHA's investigation will include a review of Tesla’s Log 300, a log of work-related injuries and illnesses, according to the agency’s spokesperson Erika Monterroza. Monterroza added that the agency will check to see if serious injuries were reported directly to Cal/OSHA within eight hours, as required by law.

Cal/OSHA is expected to conduct many visits to Tesla’s Fremont plant as part of its investigation. During its probe, which is likely take three to six months, the agency is not permitted to provide detailed information.

Tesla responded to news of the investigation by pointing out that it has a better reputation than its peers. In an emailed statement, reported on by Bloomberg, the electric automaker said its injury rate at Fremont is lower than when both Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) and General Motors Co. (GM) operated in the factory with labor union-represented workers.

“We care deeply about the safety and well-being of our people and strive to do better every day,” the company said. (See also: Tesla Aiming to Produce 6,000 Model 3s Per Week by June 30: CEO.)

Tesla previously dismissed Reveal’s report, describing it as “an ideologically motivated attack by an extremist organization working directly with union supporters to create a calculated disinformation campaign against Tesla.”