For the fifth time since the tragic death of Cintas worker Eleazar Torres Gomez at a Tulsa, Oklahoma laundry facility, the nation’s largest laundry and uniform services company is facing another expensive fine – this time $196,000 for exposing workers to illegal hazards “likely to cause death or serious physical harm” at a Mobile, Alabama plant.
The fatal negligence in Tulsa resulted in $2.78 million in fines – the largest ever in the service sector.
UNITE HERE released a synopsis of the OSHA report:
Cintas did not provide the necessary guarding to protect employees from being caught on conveyors in the Mobile plant’s washroom, according to OSHA. The emergency stop button for the conveyor was also missing in Mobile, and the company did not ensure that washroom machines were properly shut down before maintenance. Workers were exposed to a potentially fatal fall hazard while they were on top of the conveyors, a hazard OSHA classified as “willful.” Willful violations are committed with “intentional disregard” for the law or “plain indifference” to worker safety.
On March 6, Eleazar Torres Gomez was working in a Cintas automated washroom in Tulsa. He was caught on a conveyor and dragged into an industrial dryer—where he was trapped in temperatures up to 300 degrees for at least 20 minutes. He died on the scene of trauma and thermal injuries. Soon after the fatality, Cintas CEO Scott Farmer issued a press release blaming Mr. Torres Gomez for his own death.
Cintas workers throughout North America are standing with UNITE HERE and the Teamsters to gain better, safer jobs. Currently, both unions represent roughly 400 Cintas workers. For more information, please visit www.uniformjustice.org.
Comments (2)
Comments posted to CtW Connect are the sole property of the individual posting them, and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of Change to Win, its affiliated unions, or its leadership.
unite's leadership (aka scumer suckers) will do anything to stop the exodus of members leaving their organization and thus reducing their dues revenues....including the exploitation of a dead man. your fucking people should be ashamed of yourselves!
Posted by bob on November 7, 2007 at 9:21 PM
Posted on November 7, 2007 at 9:21 PM
Bob, Are you fucking serious? A person was killed because this sleazy company refused to institute mandatory safety initiatives. Thank god there is someone out there to pressure OSHA and whoever else is needed to make sure this doesn't happen again.
Posted by Wes on June 13, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Posted on June 13, 2008 at 2:50 PM