DEATH OF WORKER CAUGHT IN MEAT MACHINE PROBED

The Houston Chronicle (Associated Press) ^ | 14 June 2003

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

ROUND ROCK -- Officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have launched an investigation into the death of a food plant worker caught in a meat-processing machine, authorities said. Daniel Cruz Romero, 34, was killed Friday after being caught in a meat-processing machine at Michael Angelo's Gourmet Foods, a frozen food manufacturer in northern Travis County. Romero had complained to a former co-worker he was having trouble with the machine, the Austin American-Statesman reported Saturday.

Romero's entire body went through the machine, police said. "He came to us in fragments," said Dr. Elizabeth Peacock, deputy medical examiner in Travis County. The machine is not a meat grinder but it moves meat downward to be processed further, police said. The large, bowl-shaped machine contains paddle-like arms that move in a circular motion.

"Once he was caught in it, he would have been entangled in those," said Sgt. Robert Horton of the Round Rock Police Department. "It was a gruesome scene." The top of the machine has metal grates that were open at the time of Romero's death. Sensors in the machine are supposed to detect when the lid is open to prevent the machine from turning on, Horton said. OSHA cited the manufacturer more than two years ago for more than 50 federal health and safety violations. At the time, OSHA officials said the violations could have resulted in serious injury or death.

[wimpycat]

Argh! Stop it!

[steplock]

"Lawyers will soon own this company."

At the rate SHYSTERS are working against America right now - Lawyers will soon own America!

[Reeses]

If you want to dispute points in my train of thought, go ahead, but you're not contributing anything by personal attacks. I agree, lawyers do have their function, similar to a safely valve in the plumbing of the economy. But what has happened is lawyers have installed themselves as a permanent syphon valve. They take their handsome cut of all normal business, like a mafia racket. The stockholders are not usually at fault, however they are the ones that are robbed.

Businesses pay into workmens compensation insurance to smooth the cost of compensation for injuries and death which always have and always will occur. There is always an element of Darwinian forces in all of life. That doesn’t make it the company’s fault, just like guns are not the fault of murders. Workmens compensation should justly and efficiently pay for this accident. Lawyers should not necessarily be called in, as is the custom these days.

I do not like the lawyer profession in its current form and would like to see it changed. When the number of lawyers making a living off misfortune drops off then I’ll know the change is in the right direction. Modern lawyering is not about a fight for justice, it’s a fight for money. That is black and white wrong.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Who should decide what just compensation is for losing a life? Should it be a board set up that pays a set amount per life extinguished? Maybe Hillary Clinton can sit on the board? OSHA may be at fault, in my original post I said that the underlying assumption I was making is that the company is at fault.

Your boiling anger towards attorneys is a little frightening. I can't determine if you were rejected from lawschool or perhaps you had to pay the price for screwing over your employees/customers or wife. Whatever the case, I suggest you seek help. (I am reminded of Hitler's own deep hatred of attorneys)

Lawyer plays an important role. You may say they play a role in the same way that a sewage treatement worker plays a role, but either way they play a roll. I'd be interested what occupation you are in. I'm sure it really "contributes" to society.

[nothingnew]

FARGO

FMCDH

[nothingnew]

Thank you so much!

nothingnew@department of silly walks.gov

FMCDH

[Tahoe3002]

If lawyers were truly interested in the plight of the "little man" vs. the big nasty corporation, they would take the case for 5% to 8%, plus expenses; NOT 30% TO 45%, plus expenses. The injured gets a pittance of the settlement, while the lawyer drives away in his Mercedes, for his tee time at the country club.

[FITZ]

Daniel Cruz Romero sounds mexican?

A company likely to cut costs by hiring immigrants, is likely to cut costs with safety regulations also. Hispanics have a very high rate of workplace injuries, many companies consider them very expendable, Mexico will send more --no problem. If the employee doesn't know English, they can't read the safety rules.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

The system isn't perfect, but it could be a lot worse...

[FITZ]

You got that straight. All the idiot switches in the world can not save low-pay semi-literate workers from themselves. Been there done that, still have the T-shirt. They disable or remove the safety devices when you provide them. You have human resources or the safety engineer counsel them, never to do it again. They nod and smile Si Senior.

And for their own safety, you shouldn't hire people to do dangerous work if they can't follow rules. Even if they're real cheap and will work for no benefits and you suspect they're presenting fraudulent Social Security numbers -----the company may have been trying to cut costs by hiring illiterates and having them work in jobs they weren't qualified to do. We had a Hispanic immigrant get chopped up in a meat canning place here ---it was a gruesome death, he actually survived a few days with all his legs and part of his torso gone.

[stands2reason]

My ex is a commercial bread baker, and he routinely reached in and picked bits of dough out of the running mixer.

You dumb enough stick your arm in a running Hobart, you deserve to pull back a stump.

[Lazamataz]

They didn't waste the meat, did they??!!!???

[freeangel]

I think this plot was on CSI a few weeks back.

[Lazamataz]

The employee is caught in the middle.

Nicely done. I don't think even I could have worked that in there. :o)

[tet68]

Nope, it's all been repackaged as "Pork Free-Mecca Sausage tm." bound for export.

Disclaimer, real sausage, watch for buttons!

[stands2reason]

If lawyers were truly interested in the plight of the "little man" vs. the big nasty corporation, they would take the case for 5% to 8%, plus expenses; NOT 30% TO 45%, plus expenses. The injured gets a pittance of the settlement, while the lawyer drives away in his Mercedes, for his tee time at the country club.

You'd take 5% even if you didn't know if you'd get paid?

[BlazingArizona]

Let me guess: they discovered this when customers reported an unexpected improvement in the taste of the hot dogs?

[csvset]

Press Release: Michael Angelo's does it again with new line of Premium All-Protein Italian Entrées.

They report, you decide.