Workers in manufacturing plants face multiple safety hazards, many of which involve industrial equipment and machines with moving parts. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has strict regulations in place to prevent workers from making contact with working parts. Safeguards and lockout/tagout devices are crucial parts of the workplace injury prevention requirements.
Minnesota OSHA reported that an investigation was underway to determine the circumstances that led to the death of a factory worker in Lakeville. Her employer was a manufacturer of auto parts such as shock absorbers. No information was made available, except that the worker’s death resulted from entrapment.
It is not known how the worker was pulled into the machine that ultimately caused her death. According to MNOSHA records, this employer was cited for inadequate machine guarding in 2016. Although the issues were addressed and the hazards mitigated after those citations were issued, the recent fatality might have resulted from similar safety violations. The agency also reported that contact with moving parts had caused the deaths of 61 workers in Minnesota over the most recent five years.
When a workplace injury claims the life of a Minnesota worker, the surviving family members might have questions about their rights to financial assistance. The state-regulated workers’ compensation insurance system provides death benefits to cover the expenses of end-of-life arrangements. A financial package typically forms a part of the compensation to make up for lost wages and help with immediate financial obligations. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can explain a client’s rights and assist with the navigation of the claims process.
