A 26-year-old employee of inMetal, a Sharon, Massachusetts, metal fabrication company, died after becoming trapped in an industrial machine he was operating.

The accident occurred around 9:30 in the morning. Emergency crews spent more than an hour freeing the man, who has not been identified, from a machine that cuts large slabs of metal with a laser. The man was conscious and speaking to first responders during his rescue but died on his way to the hospital.

Investigators from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) are on scene, as are investigators from the Sharon Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Witnesses said the worker’s midsection was crushed by a slab of metal as it was loaded into the machine.

There is no published history of serious workplace accidents at inMetal, also known as Industrial Metal Products. A member of the Sharon police told reporters he had never responded to a fatal accident at the metal processor.

This case is a sad reminder that industrial machinery can kill. Officials will review every aspect of the accident, from the actions of the operator to the condition of the equipment, operator training procedures and safety equipment.

Accidents can occur for a wide range of reasons, including negligence in employee training, insufficient safety equipment or procedures or defective equipment. As experienced personal injury attorneys, we welcome investigations from OSHA and police, but we also recommend involving a lawyer as quickly as possible. A narrow window exists to collect evidence following an accident. OSHA investigators and police focus on rules violations and possible criminal activity, not on questions of negligence that impact civil settlements for workers hurt or killed on the job.

Sheff Law provides free, no-obligation consultations for workers hurt on the job and the families of those killed at work. Contact us online or call us at 1-888-423-4477 for a free case evaluation. Every Sheff Law client gets a team of experienced workplace accident attorneys who will fight to win compensation for the real expenses associated with workplace accidents.