Bumble Bee Foods to Pay $6 Million in Death of Worker Killed in Industrial Oven

KTLA ^ | 12:56pm, August 12, 2015 | Melissa Pamer,

[BenLurkin]

The horrific death of Jose Melena of Wilmington occurred Oct. 11, 2012, when he entered a 35-foot cylindrical oven and became inadvertently trapped when coworkers loaded 12,000 pounds of canned tuna into the oven. Workers did not know Melena was inside, according to the DA’s office.

During the two-hour heat sterilization process, the oven’s internal temperature rose to about 270 degrees, the DA’s office had previously said. Melena’s severely burned remains were discovered by a coworker.

His family will get $1.5 million of the $6 million settlement payout.

Under the plea agreement, San Diego-based Bumble Bee will also be required to spend $3 million to replace the outdated tuna ovens with new, automated, pressurized steam cookers that won’t require workers to set inside. Ovens will get video cameras installed, and managers and workers will be required to get safety training.

...

Saul Florez of Whittier, Bumble Bee’s former safety manager, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony count of willfully violating lockout tagout rules and proximately causing the victim’s death. He was sentenced to three years of probation, along with 30 days of community labor and safety classes. He must pay $19,000 in fines and penalties.

[FreedomPoster]

There are special locks and tags sold for this. It is basic industrial safety equipment, like safety glasses, earplugs, and hard hats.

[Grams A]

Thanks. I’ll see if I can find that brand although I don’t recall ever seeing it in our Texas stores.