Grove City, OH — A manufacturing company based in Delaware, with operations in Ohio, was sentenced today to pay the maximum fine of $500,000 after admitting to willfully breaching an OSHA safety regulation, which led to the unfortunate death of an employee in 2020.
Fabcon Precast LLC, known for producing precast concrete panels at its facility in Grove City, will also undergo two years of organizational probation and must adhere to a court-mandated Safety Compliance Plan. This sentencing comes in the wake of a tragic incident where a pneumatic door at the company’s plant closed on a worker’s head, ultimately causing his death.
The employee, Zachary Ledbetter, served as a batch operator and was responsible for operating the facility’s sole concrete mixer. The mixer released concrete through a bottom-opening pneumatic door that was powered by compressed air. A malfunctioning exhaust valve handle, which had not been replaced before June 6, 2020, left the door in a perilous, partially inoperable condition. As Ledbetter tried to manually close the door, it struck him fatally in the head. He succumbed to his injuries five days later in a hospital.
Prosecutors: “Tragic and Preventable”
“Today’s sentencing reflects Fabcon’s willful failure to implement measures to protect its workers,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Sadly, this led to Zachary’s death. This tragedy shows the importance of following safety standards.”
Megan Howell, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, emphasized the seriousness of the violation:
“Fabcon Precast LLC willfully failed to adhere to OSHA safety regulations, which resulted in the tragic and preventable loss of a worker’s life. This sentencing highlights our steadfast commitment to hold accountable those who jeopardize workers’ safety.”
According to federal law, intentional breaches of OSHA standards leading to an employee’s death are categorized as class B misdemeanors, which is the sole federal criminal charge applicable for such violations of workplace safety. Fabcon’s conviction under this law highlights the legal dangers that companies encounter when they neglect safety protocols.
