Marshall Business to Pay a Fine in an Employee’s Death

MARSHALL – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Marshall Pottery have reached a settlement in the death of the assistant plant manager on Easter Sunday. According to a news release from OSHA, Marshall Pottery agreed to pay a penalty of $545,160. The company had been cited for six willful violations and 21 serious violations. The body of Arturo Gonzalez, 42, was found on April 17th stuck in a kiln at the business. He had worked at the business for 11 years. The final autopsy, which was performed by at Forensic Medical of Texas in Tyler, showed he died from environmental hyperthermia. The autopsy confirmed it was an accidental death.

The news release quoted OSHA Area Director Basil Singh, in Dallas, as saying, “This company was cited for similar violations in 2008 after another fatality at the plant. Failures to implement lockout/tagout and confined space programs are unacceptable. Employers must use all required safeguards and procedures to prevent the recurrence of similar tragedies.”