OSHA Investigates Serious Worker Injury at Meta Data Center Construction Site in Cheyenne
OSHA investigated a serious workplace injury at Meta's $800 million data center construction project in Cheyenne after a worker was run over by a lift. The incident comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the project, including a wastewater contamination dispute between Meta's construction entity, Goat Systems LLC, and the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated an Oct. 7 injury at Meta's data center construction site in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Erin Turbitt, an OSHA spokesperson, confirmed the investigation after VFC Lightning reported the incident. Worker Joel Ferguson said a colleague serving as a ground spotter was run over by a lift and suffered multiple fractures and internal injuries. VFC Lightning sent the affected crew home with pay while work was suspended pending the investigation, although construction elsewhere at the site continued. VFC Lightning and general contractor Fortis Construction did not comment.
The incident has added to concerns about transparency surrounding Meta's project. Earlier in the year, the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities traced bacteria in the city's wastewater reuse system to Goat Systems LLC, the entity Meta uses to build the facility, issued a notice of violation with a proposed $10,000 fine, and stopped accepting wastewater from data center fill-and-flush and cooling operations. Meta is appealing, while Cheyenne City Councilman Lawrence Wolfe criticized the project's secrecy and U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman questioned CEO Mark Zuckerberg about the contamination and delayed public disclosure.