Safety violations found in N. Ind. worker's death

July 03, 2009 10:10 am

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ELKHART, Ind. (AP) — State inspectors are citing a northern Indiana lumber recycling plant with safety violations in the death of a worker.

The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration report says VIM Recycling in Elkhart did not do enough to maintain "reasonably safe" conditions before 40-year-old Jose Luis Guerrero Chavarria was killed on May 6.

He was gathering up debris that had fallen beside a wood grinder when he was struck by an excavator.

The agency proposed a $6,000 fine and for VIM to fix the violations by July 20.

VIM spokesman Tom Holt said the company would work with IOSHA to improve safety.

A 2007 fire at the plant killed one worker and seriously injured another. State officials fined VIM $10,000 for safety violations.