Florida Teen’s Tragic Death in Cement Mixer: Holding the Employer Liable

• Investigators say a pipe-making company is responsible for a worker’s death inside a cement mixer.
• In March, a 19-year-old was killed at one of Foley Products Company’s locations in Florida.
• OSHA stated that the company failed to implement “well-known safeguards.”

It was a tragic accident that could have been easily prevented, according to the US Department of Labor. Federal regulators have placed the blame on a Georgia-based concrete manufacturer for disregarding basic safety protocols, which resulted in the death of a teenage worker. The worker was killed while attempting to maintain one of the company’s cement mixers.

In March 2023, media reports stated that a man lost his life at Foley Products Company’s location near Pensacola, Florida. He was cleaning one of the mixers when it unexpectedly turned on, trapping him inside. Shortly after the incident, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched an investigation, as reported by WEAR News. OSHA requires companies to adhere to strict guidelines to prevent such incidents.

OSHA’s investigation, made public on Wednesday, revealed over half a dozen serious violations of federal law, leading to proposed civil penalties of nearly $250,000. One of the violations, classified as “willful,” directly contributed to the worker’s death. The company neglected to cut the power to the cement mixer before the worker entered it.

Furthermore, OSHA found that Foley Products Company failed to adequately train its employees on safety practices and did not assign an attendant to address potential emergencies.

“Foley Products Company’s failure to implement well-known safeguards cost the life of a young worker,” stated Jose A. Gonzalez, director of OSHA’s regional office in Mobile, Alabama. “This tragic incident should serve as a reminder of the importance of complying with safety and health standards, as required by law.”

Foley Company Products has a two-week period to contest the findings before taking any further action. As of now, they have not responded to requests for comment.