On the Job Accidents Kill Workers

Flemington, NJ (WorkersCompensation.com) – A cemetery worker is dead after an accident involving a wood chipper, one of several worker deaths this month.

Officials said a 22-year-old cemetery worker died on July 10 in St. Magdalen Cemetery in Flemington, N.J. Police were called to the cemetery around 6:20 p.m. where they found Eonia Mateo-Perez. The Hunterdon County prosecutor’s office said he was declared dead at the scene where he suffered fatal injuries while “operating tree-chipping equipment.”

Officials said the prosecutor’s office and OSHA were investigating the accident, even though no foul play is suspected.

On July 12, a golf course employee in Arizona died after being stung by a swarm of bees.

Officials said Rich Messina, an employee of El Conquistador Golf in Oro Valley, Ariz., was mowing an area near the Pusch Ridge Course on June 24 when he was stung by bees. The Oro Valley Police Department said Messina was stung numerous times and was taken to a local hospital. He died of his injuries on June 27.

After the incident, beekeepers in the area and the 45 golf holes on the property and “found no hives nor bee activity.” Beekeepers gave the property the all clear, El Conquistador Golf said in a statement.  

“It appears Rick was attacked by a traveling swarm of bees,” the golf course said in a statement.

According to CBS News and KOLD-TV, club members were informed of Messina's death through email.

"Rick was a dedicated and cherished member of our team, known for his exceptional work ethic, positive attitude, and unwavering commitment to his duties. His sudden passing is a profound loss to our work family and our community. He will be deeply missed by all," a statement on the email read, per the outlets.

Anna Bifano, vice president of Friends of Pusch Ridge Golf, said Messina was working on completing a serenity garden prior to his death.

“It was a combo of his ingenuity and just kind of take-charge attitude. Cause he would see things that needed to be done, and no one had to tell him what to do," she said. Bifano said the organization would work on completing the garden in his honor.

The group create a GoFundMe page to support Messina’s parents, who lived with Messina, officials said.

"Rick shared a home in Tucson with his elderly parents – John and Marlene Messina. They will undoubtedly have expenses to deal with during a tough time," the campaign explains.

In Mulberry, Fla., a process operator was killed when she inexplicably fell into a machine.

Officials said Jameka Williams, 29 was working at the Mosaic plant south of the city when she was killed.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Williams was working on a piece of machinery on July 12, when she slipped and fell into the machine. Her death is still under investigation, Judd said. OSHA has also been called and will investigate the incident. An autopsy was due to be completed on July 15, Judd’s office said.

On July 15, a die-setter working at Dexter Stamping in Sandstone Township died after a die case fell.

According to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a 36-year-old die setter in Jackson was moving and lifting a die-cast with a crane when the swivel bolt broke loose. Officials said that caused the weight to shift and the entire die cast fell. The employee was crushed by the falling die-cast, MIOSHA said.

The employer’s incident report indicated that the swivel bolt was not fully threaded into the die and had come out of the hole, MIOSHA said.

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said the accident did not appear to be related to alcohol or drugs. It was the 14th worker death in Michigan this year reported to MIOSHA.

And on July 12 in Guymon, Oklahoma, a vehicular accident caused an employee’s death at Seaboard Foods, officials said.

Police said the incident occurred in the trailer lot area of the pork processing facility around 12:30 a.m. After arriving, police found an adult male on the scene who had passed away. The employee was not identified.

Seaboard said it extended its condolences to the employee’s family and friends.

“We are fully cooperating with all investigations conducted by local law enforcement and regulatory authorities,” a company spokesperson said. “As Seaboard Foods’ focus is on the safety and well-being of our people, we are providing counseling services to all employees who express interest in such services.”

Operations at the plant have resumed, officials said.

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