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Amazon autonomous vehicle company Zoox has halted testing on its fleet of vehicles in Atlanta after safety drivers may have been exposed to toxic gases in the cars late last month.
According to documentation viewed by TechCrunch, multiple incidents occurred in August where Zoox contractors experienced symptoms consistent with carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulfide exposure. The incidents resulted in one of the contractors filing a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which then launched an investigation into the matter and told Zoox to investigate as well.
OSHA estimates that as many as 40 people could have been exposed to potentially toxic fumes while driving for the company. The worst of the incidents happened when a worker vomited in the vehicle and exposed his fellow drivers to possible fumes. Instead of removing them from the road, however, the company put them in another vehicle that also contained possible toxins.
"They made us go right back in the field after we said we were throwing up. I emailed HR, told her what's going on, and I told her I feel like it's messed up that y'all made us go [back out]."
-- Jay Davis, Zoox contractor
Workers in the facility in August reported feeling ill and smelling strange odors, but it was not until August 22nd, when a sick worker had to be taken to the hospital, that the facility was finally shut down for investigation. Since then, the facility has only been able to operate at limited capacity with test vehicles that have been cleared of any unknown substances.
The 28 employees who rode in the six vehicles with the unidentified smell were identified by Zoox. Ten of the employees voluntarily underwent medical evaluation and only one of the medical reports indicated CO2 exposure. Zoox states in its letter to OSHA that it has not found any carbon monoxide in the vehicles.
Zoox told OSHA that it tested the exhaust system for gas leakage, conducted smoke tests to verify that there were no cabin intrusions, and replaced all 12-volt batteries, which can produce hydrogen sulfide gas when damaged -- a gas that smells like rotten eggs, which several workers reported noticing. TechCrunch confirmed with Zoox that no battery damage or hydrogen sulfide was found.
Zoox's test cars are modified Toyota Highlander internal combustion engine vehicles -- a significant outlier among autonomous vehicle developers. Waymo, Tesla, and most other major companies use all-electric test fleets that produce no exhaust gases. While Zoox says it has not modified the ventilation systems of its Highlanders, the vehicles carry extensive sensor arrays, autonomy computers, and an interior air-distribution snorkel -- modifications that can create sealing issues and pathways for gas to enter the cabin.
OSHA has since closed its inquiry. Going forward, Zoox said it will add CO2 monitors to all test vehicles -- devices that will also be capable of detecting carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide.
The Atlanta incidents follow an August TechCrunch report documenting injuries to Zoox and Waymo test drivers caused by sudden braking and swerving of autonomous test vehicles, raising broader questions about worker safety as robotaxi companies race to expand operations.
According to TechCrunch.
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