The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Pearson Farms LLC for safety violations following the death of 56-year-old Francisco Rodrigues.
He died in August 2019 after he was hit in his head by a pallet on a forklift at Pearson’s post-harvest facility in Fort Valley, Georgia.
OSHA issued a release on the case on February 7, noting that the farm now faces $128,004 in penalties.
Investigations revealed that Rodrigues was performing maintenance when he got caught between a load on the forklift and a metal railing.
He suffered blunt-force trauma to the head and died less than an hour after the accident at a hospital.
Rodrigues was a native of Mexico and a resident of Fort Valley. He had worked at Pearson Farm for several years.
OSHA cited the company for exposing workers to chemical, fall, and amputation hazards. It said the employer failed to:
- Provide adequate machine guarding
- Devise an early warning system for detecting anhydrous ammonia leaks
- Develop and apply an emergency response plan
- Develop and use lockout and tagout procedures
OSHA Acting Area Director in Atlanta-East Condell Eastmond said employers have a responsibility to identify hazards in their workplaces and take the appropriate actions to eliminate serious injuries and illnesses.
He said they should implement a comprehensive health and safety program to ensure there are controls to protect workers.
Pearson Farms now has 15 business days after receiving the citations and proposed penalties to respond. The company can comply, request an informal conference with the area director, or challenge the findings in front of the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
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