OSHA seeks fine in forklift death of 17 year old ($16,000)

[Omaha Steve]

Published Wednesday August 5, 2009

By Aaron Sanderford
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
« Metro/Region

A south Omaha meat plant faces potential fines of nearly $16,000 for safety violations alleged in a fatal forklift crash. A 17-year-old Omaha boy died after the workplace accident.

Miguel Herrera-Soltero drove a forklift out of the Progressive Protein meat-rendering plant on May 8. According to Omaha police and the U.S. Department of Labor, the forklift toppled from a ramp, he fell out and the forklift landed on him. He was pinned by its protective cage.

Inspectors for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration say they found three serious safety violations at the plant, 5102 S. 26th St., and one violation deemed not quite as serious.

Among the allegations: They say that the plant lacked proper training for those trying to become industrial truck operators and that the plant inadequately supervised those trainees. The other serious allegations involved energy control procedures and a lack of seat belt use, according to an OSHA press release on Tuesday.

OSHA classifies violations as serious when serious injury or death is likely to occur as a result of a risk an employer knew or should have known about.

FULL story at link.