Fuyao Glass America has issued a statement saying they are “working closely alongside the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as they investigate the death of a forklift operator following an accident early Tuesday morning.
The Montgomery County Coroner’s office says 57 year-old Ricky Patterson of Dayton died from blunt force injury to the head and neck. Reports say he was found pinned between a forklift and a pallet of heavy glass.
Fuyao called Patterson a “valued colleague” and asked for privacy for Patterson’s family and other workers as the cause of the incident is investigated.
The company says they have activated an employee assistance program and have responders available to talk with and counsel employees.
In their statement Fuyao said safety is a top priority for the company. Last year they agreed to pay $100,000 to resolve OSHA safety violations at the plant.
Several workers have alleged unsafe conditions at the plant and recently tried to unionize workers there. Workers overwhelmingly voted against the effort.
