Corpus Christi Industrial Accident: Worker Crushed in Workplace Accident
A 22-year old worker, Christopher Michael Cantu, was crushed and killed in an industrial accident at the Coastal Plating Company in Corpus Christi, on May 28. He was working in their factory when an overhead crane was moving a 13-ton cylinder of sand blasting material across the factory, when the container snapped loose and fell on top of the worker.
Paramedics were immediately called, and a number of co-workers tried to help, but the package was too heavy for them to lift. The worker was pronounced dead at the scene. According to several reports, there were at least ten workers in the factory at the time of the accident. At this point, it is unknown what Cantu was doing at the time of the accident, but police reported that he was crouched down when he was crushed by the tank.
The Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) is investigating the accident, and the scene should be familiar, since it’s not the first time their investigators have visited Coastal Plating after an accident. In the past six years, OSHA has cited the company for numerous workplace safety violations, including several for an accident involving their cranes and the slings they used to carry large loads. On December 14, 2007, there was another workplace accident in which a worker lost his left foot through amputation and suffered some broken bones when a crane dropped a cylinder being used to drain oil on him. They cited the company for a “struck by hazard” violation and fined them $1,750.
It is the responsibility of all employers to make sure workers are as safe as possible. OSHA and state agencies have to do more to follow up on the violations they find in the workplace and make sure the problem has been resolved, but ultimately, it’s still the employer’s responsibility. If you or a loved one has been killed or seriously injured on the job, especially when you suspect their employer may have been negligent, contact the Texas Worksite Injury Lawyer at Hill Law Firm today as soon as possible.