A 26-year-old man from Duncan has died after falling into some machinery at his workplace, according to a report in The Oklahoman. The man was cleaning a piece of equipment that uses an auger at a plant in Lawton when he fell in and became trapped. Emergency workers worked for nearly two hours to free the man, who was entangled from the waist down. Lawton Fire Department Lt. Steve Thornton said, “His legs were caught in an auger. They used a forklift to stabilize the auger while cutting it in two (pieces), lifted up the auger and pulled him from the machinery.”
After being freed, the man was taken in an ambulance to a nearby hospital. He died not long after his arrival from severe injuries. The vice president of operations at the plant said that the company will be conducting an in-house investigation into the Oklahoma workplace accident as well as cooperating with all government agencies to discover the cause of the tragedy. A spokesman for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said that the agency will be investigating the incident.
All places of employment are subject to OSHA regulations for worker safety. While the rules vary by occupation, one thing that is consistent is the responsibility of the employer to have proper safety policies in place to protect workers. When employers ignore safety protocols or take shortcuts, serious and sometimes fatal injuries can occur. If you have been injured while on the job, contact the Lawton injury lawyers at The Maples Law Firm for help you during this difficult time. Our attorneys will take on the task of carefully evaluating your case and fighting for compensation you may be entitled to so that you can focus on recovering. Call (405) 705-5050 for a free consultation.
