Worker Dies in Blender: Man Killed in Oregon Meat Plant in Horrific Accident (VIDEO)
A worker has died in a blender at an Oregon meat plant on Friday, in a shocking and tragic accident that has shocked the local community.
Hugo Avalos-Chanon, 41, was reportedly cleaning inside the plant when he fell into the blender, which was in operation at the time.
Deputy Nate Thompson, from the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, has stated that the man lived in Portland, and worked for DCS Sanitation Management. DC Sanitation has a contract agreement with Interstate Meat Distributors.
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The worker fell into the blender at about 11.45 p.m. on Friday and work colleagues slammed the emergency stop button on the machine, and emergency services were immediately called. Paramedics and sheriff's deputies attended the scene, but tragically it was too late to save the man's life.
Firefighters were called to attend the scene the next day to dismantle the blender and remove the body, which was had reportedly suffered "blunt-force injuries and chopping wounds," according to Dr. Cliff Young, a deputy state medical examiner.
Officials believe that the incident was a tragic "industrial accident" and at the present time no foul play is suspected.
According to reports, an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) report from last fall found that machines at the plant were not locked during the cleaning process.
The inspector at that time also added that an "unexpected start-up of the machine" could result in injury.
Oregon OSHA spokeswoman Melanie Mesaros has said, "It's way too early to say (if anyone is to blame). We're just starting our investigation, which could take six months."
Investigators are reportedly examining evidence and interviewing witnesses at the plant and reviewing safety records.
Mesaros has claimed that previous inspections of DCS Sanitation Management's operations had not resulted in any violations being recorded.
Here is a video news report into the tragic accident:
