OSHA Fines Massachusetts Firm over Ice Machine Death

November 12, 2009

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A New Bedford, Massachusetts seafood processing plant faces $66,800 in fines following a probe into the death of a worker who became caught in an industrial ice-making machine.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Northern Wind Inc. with nearly two dozen alleged violations of workplace safety standards.

Forty-year-old Joseph Teixeira was killed in May 4 when he got caught in the moving parts of the machine when it unexpectedly turned on while he was performing maintenance work.

OSHA says the company lacked procedures to make sure that the machine could not accidentally become active while employees were working inside.

Northern Wind has 15 days to appeal. Company officials did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

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Latest Comments

  • November 15, 2009 at 6:32 am
    Buck Lyn says:
    Sounds like HAL. The Machine , " when it unexpectedly turned on ." Osha is not any beter. " machine could not accidentally become active ." The Description of the Loss is not ... read more
  • November 13, 2009 at 5:53 am
    wudchuck says:
    i remember we used to not only do that but tag the switch as well. (military in me)...
  • November 12, 2009 at 2:47 am
    donna says:
    Maybe I'm too common sense, but I would not just turn off a large machine but also UNPLUG IT whilst performing maintenance on it...
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