Worker Mobility: Temporary Staff, Multi-Site Work and Consistent Safety Fatality File

Worker

A 29-year-old temporary sanitation worker was fatally injured while working at a food production facility in Gurnee, Illinois. She was assigned to clean a spiral conveyor used to cool pizzas while it was still in motion. During the task, she used compressed air to clean the equipment, but as the conveyor continued to operate, her head became caught in the machinery. The incident resulted in fatal injuries, highlighting the extreme danger of performing cleaning or maintenance on energized equipment.

The OSHA investigation found multiple critical failures across both the host employer and contractor. These included deficient lockout/tagout procedures, lack of proper machine guarding, inadequate training in a language understood by the worker, and exposure to multiple hazards such as electrical risks and fall hazards. Both companies were cited, with significant penalties issued, emphasizing the shared responsibility in contractor and temporary worker safety. The case demonstrates how gaps in supervision, communication, and hazard control—especially involving temporary workers—can lead to catastrophic outcomes.

Source: https://ohsonline.com