Hazardous substances present, U.S. Department of Labor requires Meta to close critical cleanroom for AR/VR use

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(XR Navigation Network January 06, 2024）由于认为存在有害物质并会对员工健康产生影响，美国华盛顿州劳动和工业部日前要求MetaImmediate closureReality Labs的一间洁净室。目前，Meta已经向西雅图的一名法官发出请愿书，希望可以撤销所述命令。

The dispute reportedly involves a clean room at Meta's "Matrix/Matrix" campus in Redmond, Washington, USA. As the headquarters of Reality Labs, the team has been developing future AR/VR technologies at the Matrix campus.

However, after an investigation, the Washington State Department of Labor found that the cleanroom in question and the nearby natural gas transmission room violated nine safety regulations, so Meta was required to stop scheduling employees to work in said facility until they could demonstrate that they had adequately assessed the potential risks of airborne chemicals and gases within the cleanroom and had taken appropriate precautions to protect employees.

In response to this request, Meta has sent a petition to a judge in Seattle in the hope that said order can be vacated.

They write, "Much of the research and development at the Matrix campus takes place in the 'clean room'. This is an enclosed, purpose-built space designed primarily to filter contaminants such as dust, airborne microorganisms, and aerosolized particles to provide the cleanest possible environment.Meta integrates numerous engineering controls in the cleanroom that are in line with industry best practices and are fully compliant with state and federal health and safety regulations."

The petition alleges that the State of Washington issued the immediate restraining order without prior notice to Meta, and also without attempting to seek Meta's consent.Meta further argues that, with respect to the requirement that several of the Matrix Facility's cleanroom efforts be stopped immediately, the order in question imposes significant, unrecoverable, and ongoing costs on Meta.

The hearing in question is reportedly scheduled for June 2024, and Meta says they have taken "a number of substantial interim actions" to address the issues raised by Washington State.

A Meta spokesperson said, "The health and safety of our employees is our top priority. We are working closely with state officials and taking all necessary precautions to ensure a safe work environment."