WEBVTT
X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:0
00:00.239 –> 00:06.730
On June 6, 2020, 20-year-old Zachary Ledbetter
was working as a batch operator at Fabcon
00:06.730 –> 00:11.750
Precast, a company that manufactures precast
concrete panels in Ohio.
00:12.119 –> 00:15.109
Ledbetter had been on the job for about 6
months.
00:15.359 –> 00:19.305
Batcher.
At Fabcon operate and clean the facility’s only
00:19.305 –> 00:22.305
concrete mixer.
Concrete was discharged from the bottom of the
00:22.305 –> 00:23.895
mixer through a pneumatic door.
00:24.184 –> 00:28.504
The mixer had an exhaust valve that released
the pneumatic energy powering the discharge
00:28.504 –> 00:31.774
door, rendering it inoperable.
But at some point,
00:32.064 –> 00:36.145
the handle that operated the valve broke and
wasn’t replaced.
00:36.424 –> 00:40.825
According to the Department of Justice,
Ledbetter was on duty when the discharge door
00:40.825 –> 00:43.784
failed to close after releasing a batch of
concrete.
00:44.209 –> 00:48.840
Because the valve was broken, Ledbetter
couldn’t perform the proper procedure to make
00:48.840 –> 00:50.310
the door safe to work around.
00:50.560 –> 00:54.069
When he attempted to free the door, it closed
on his head,
00:54.319 –> 00:57.400
trapping him.
Ledbetter was freed and transported to a
00:57.400 –> 01:00.869
hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries five
days later.
01:01.009 –> 01:04.714
Fabcon precast.
A Delaware corporation that operates several
01:04.714 –> 01:10.035
facilities in the United States pleaded guilty
in federal court this February to willfully
01:10.035 –> 01:12.904
violating an OSHA rule, a criminal charge.
01:13.235 –> 01:19.834
Yesterday, Fabcon was ordered to pay a $500,000
fine, the statutory maximum.
01:20.230 –> 01:25.250
The company will also serve a 2 year
organizational probation and comply with a
01:25.250 –> 01:26.559
safety compliance plan.
01:26.769 –> 01:31.050
Special Agent in Charge Megan Howell of the
United States Department of Labor Office of
01:31.050 –> 01:36.410
Inspector General of the Great Lakes region
said the sentence highlights our steadfast.
01:36.705 –> 01:41.425
commitment to continue working with OSHA and
our law enforcement partners to hold
01:41.425 –> 01:44.294
accountable those who jeopardize workers’
safety.
01:44.544 –> 01:49.705
Federal law makes it a Class B misdemeanor to
willfully fail to follow an OSHA safety
01:49.705 –> 01:53.014
standard where the failure causes an employee
death.
01:53.345 –> 01:58.614
The misdemeanor is the only federal criminal
charge covering such safety violations.
01:59.105 –> 02:02.614
Fabcon Precast has not responded to our request
for comment.
02:02.885 –> 02:03.974
I’m David Manti.
02:04.224 –> 02:05.584
This is manufacturing now.