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October 04, 2024

OSHA Determines 3M Culpable for Worker’s Death at Manufacturing Plant

Trisha Jones, 57, had worked at 3M’s factory in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, for 23 years. She had dreamed of starting her own cafe after retirement.

Unfortunately, on May 9th, 2023, Jones was crushed in a machine’s running rollers at work, leading to her death.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) determined that she had been assisting with setting up a plastic extrusion line when the incident happened. Investigations revealed that 3M’s workplace safety violations contributed to the accident.

On November 2023, OSHA cited the company for two willful offenses and imposed a $156,259 fine for each, the highest amount allowed.

OSHA confirms that Jones’ death was avoidable

The machine’s rollers were designed with a safety gate and were intended to operate at a slow speed. Jones, who was undergoing training at the time, was caught between the plastics and the rollers.

Despite efforts by fellow workers to rescue Jones by cutting plastic fibers to free her, she had already sustained severe head injuries.

Federal investigators and OSHA discovered that the company failed to adhere to workplace safety standards such as the following:

  • 3M neglected to follow energy control measures during the production line setup. The company did not comply with procedures for controlling hazardous energy and failed to implement energy control application steps when employees manually set up the production line.
  • 3M had inadequate machine guards. The company permitted its employees to go past machine guarding to cut and remove wrapped fibers from rotating rollers and clean up fibers from the floor, putting them at risk of getting caught in the machinery.

This is not the first time 3M was found at fault for workplace safety violations that led to the death of a worker.

In 2022, a 3M plant worker in Alexandria suffered the same fate

3M is a Maplewood, Minnesota-based company that manufactures over 60,000 commercial and industrial products. It has 40 production plants and about 34,000 employees in the U.S.– 500 of which are at the Prairie du Chien facility.

In February 2022, 63-year-old Dale Skillings, a worker from the 3M plant in Alexandria, Minnesota, was also killed after getting caught and crushed in a machine roller.

Skillings died while operating a machine that processes sandpaper. The machine works by unwinding a roll of sandpaper from one side, passing it through rollers, and winding it onto a cardboard tube on the other side of the machine.

About 40 feet of the 50-foot roll had been processed when Skillings became entangled in the machinery, leading to his death. For this incident, 3M was penalized with $25,000.

About industrial workplace accident injuries

Industrial accidents happen in factories, production facilities, or construction sites. Workers in such settings are exposed to heavy machinery and multiple hazards while on duty, which increases their risk of accidents and physical damage.

Some of the most common industrial accident injuries include:

  • Fractured bones and crush injuries
  • Amputation
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Sprains and burns

Workers can incur these injuries through slips, falls, forklift and crane accidents, being stuck between heavy objects, etc. The chances of these incidents happening can be minimized by following workplace safety protocols.

A worker’s safety on duty can heavily depend on the company’s compliance with safety rules and regulations. Anyone dealing with complex and dangerous machines must be properly trained and primed to follow procedures as necessary.

If you, a family member, or someone you know got caught in an industrial mishap, it is essential to report the incident to your employer as soon as possible. Get medical attention, and ensure you assert your rights to workers’ compensation by seeking guidance from an industrial accident lawyer.

Companies ignoring workplace safety place their employees at higher risks of accidents and injuries. The deaths of Jones and Skillings serve as textbook examples of workplace safety negligence. If your incident was caused by negligence or hazardous working conditions, consider seeking legal advice from a workplace negligence lawyer.

Workers’ compensation lawyers for industrial accident injuries and deaths

Victims of industrial injuries face not only lengthy physical rehabilitation and recovery, but also financial challenges. Besides expensive medical bills, they will also tend to lose out on a lot of income due to the rehabilitation process. Should the victim die due to their injuries, their families will often still be left with a significant financial burden.

This is why the guidance of a workers’ compensation lawyer is so crucial in the aftermath of a work injury. With an expert legal team, injured workers or the families of workers who have sadly lost their lives can secure the financial benefits they need to face the future with confidence.

If you’ve experienced a work injury, Pond Lehocky Giordano is here to help. For a free legal consultation, call us at 1-800-568-7500 or contact us online today.

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