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.

[stands2reason]

Just because he has a Spanish last name in Texas doesn't make him an immigrant.

[stands2reason]

Michael Angelo's is PEOPLE!!!!

[visualops]

I can attest to that. I work with a guy who uses the spray ink dissolver (various petroleum based solvents, xilene etc) to clean his hands, no matter how many times I tell him he's poisoning himself. OSHA will often obssess over stupid minutae than what the workers may really have a problem with. They'll cite us if we don't keep the gallon buckets of ink covered, despite the fact that is irrelevant to anything, it isn't harmful unless heated & cured. I worked one place where the rabbit in the shop ate the dirty rags and was never the worse for it. But, they say the two air compressors aren't too loud, and no covering or insulation is called for.

[Oberon]

And the "...he come to us in pieces." part...eeewwwwww!

Soylent Green is people...

[Conservative til I die]

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

1) It wasn't a personal attack. It was sarcasm.

2) You said that if anyone was pro-lawyer, then they are pro-Democrat and hence do not belong at FR, a conservative place.

Now, first, you're saying that anyone who thinks the company is at fault in this one case is necessarily "pro-lawyer." That is a huge jump, akin to saying that anyone anti-quota is pro-slavery. Then, you use that mischaracterization to make conclusions as to the conservativeness of Freepers.

3) You then basically agree with us saying lawyers have their place. That's all I'm saying too. In some cases, a company has a policy of gross negligence, or is a sweatshop, or routinely cuts corners. Occasionally, this catches up to the company and a gruesome death occurs, or tainted food gets out and people get sick, or what have you. Those companies deserve to get punished for it, in either a civil or criminal court, depending on the action.

I just see many conservatives take a kneejerk reaction and always put the blame on lawyers or stupid workers, which in essence lets the employer off the hook, regardless of their liability.

[Old Professer]

Actually, there is a group that determines the value of human life; I believe the current value for an 18 year old in good condition is $3,000,000,000 over the course of his life and that is what would be sued for and likely awarded upon proof.

[Cboldt]

OSHA cited the manufacturer of the machine or the food producer?

OSHA only has jurisdiction over the workplace. They cite the workplace for operating unsafe equipment. The workplace owner/operator might, in turn, seek relief from the machine builder.

The machine builder has OSHA looking over his shoulder too, but in HIS workplace, not the workplaces where his machines are used in production.

[Old Professer]

So they really do sell ink by the gallon.

[_Jim]

OSHA only has jurisdiction over the workplace.

You may know that and I may know that but the fact remains that the story is written sloppily - and since when does a 'food plant' (as it was called earlier in the same story) become a 'manufacturer'?

While I'm griping, this simply doesn't cut it in my book either: "a frozen food manufacturer ". Call them a producer, a processor of frozen foods, sure, but a 'manufacturer' - no, sorry ...

[FITZ]

I didn't say that for sure he is ---but the educated English speaking American Hispanics are usually smart enough to read directions and I doubt are at any more risk than other Americans. I think there's a very good likelihood he is an immigrant ---being used for cheap labor and with little regard for his safety. I've seen cleaning crews unable to read or speak English handling fairly dangerous chemicals. I think the employer has some responsibility when it provides dangerous chemicals or machines to naive types of people.

[Jhoffa_]

(:

[Jhoffa_]

Everybody thinks, "it will only take a second to unjam this machine", rather than going through the trouble of locking out.

Oh yes, trying to short cut safety protocol is what cost our guy his finger.

Sure, they "trained" but then they didn't enforce their own regs.

[tupac]

I know, it is too bad that tort reform hasn't been accepted as a primary concern of most politicians. The demoncraps especially. Even when a lawyer does represent a client in a true and just case, the lawyers take more than their fair share of the judgements in my opinion.

[tupac]

I agree with you, lock-out tag-out works. I am an instrument technician in a chemical company and use it daily at work. The plant or company worksite has a commitment to it's workers to ensure that safety happens, too many times the culture that is present at a worksite does not put safety first.

[tupac]

Yes they do. Without competant and ethical lawyers where would we be? My comment was a bit cynical, mainly becuase of the sad times that we live in where an issue such as smoking tobacco or an accident such as this can become a law firms' windfall, nothing but dollars to the lawyers.

[visualops]

That's plastisol ink, although I guess you're making a reference I'm not getting.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

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

You ain't right, boy! From personal experience, a lot of safety problems in manufacturing environments in the U.S. where Hispanics are working are directly related to the language barrier. The Spanish-speaking workers do not understand the English signage or oral instructions. The companies will not hire competent bilinguals to communicate those directives to the workers. And, sometimes, the workers just will NOT follow directives even when they have been informed of the consequences.

[Old Professer]

There's a famous story about a politician, I think, who, when criticized roundly by a newspaper was asked by a reporter why he didn't sue, and the politician said words to the effect of: "I don't argue with someone who buys ink by the gallon (or was it barrel?)

[Hildy]

My stepson witnessed his co-worker slip into a woodchip cutter three years ago. It was horrible.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

was it barrel?

It was indeed a barrel.