Owner/Supervisor and Company Fined $132,000 for Fatal Entanglement

A worker was standing on a ladder to access the hopper portion of a machine that kneads and cuts pasta dough with an auger. He fell into the hopper, which was in operation, and died. The MOL found that the interlock switch designed to shut off the machine when the hopper’s cover was open wasn’t working and the cover and interlock didn’t meet guarding requirements. The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that equipment, materials and protective devices were maintained in good condition. A company part-owner pleaded guilty to failing, as a supervisor, to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker. The court fined the company $120,000 and the owner/supervisor $12,000 [Pasta Quistini Inc. and Orlando Quistini, Govt. News Release, June 21, 2013].