x
Breaking News
More () »

TOSHA fines Bush Brothers after worker death at Jefferson County facility

In April, a female worker from Dandridge was pulled into the machine and killed. After an investigation, the agency found three key issues.

Bush Brothers has been fined by Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration for a death at an East Tennessee facility.

In April, a female worker from Dandridge was pulled into the machine and killed. After an investigation, the agency found three key issues.

PREVIOUS: TOSHA investigating death of worker at Bush Brothers' facility

It said the employee didn't use correct procedure while cleaning and the company didn't use proper guarding, which would keep employees from being pulled into the equipment.

TOSHA said both violations were directly responsible for her death.

It also said they failed to deliver hazard communication training on locking out the equipment so it wouldn't go into operation during cleaning. TOSHA said that wasn't directly involved in her death.

Now, the company is being fined $8,175.

The TOSHA report identified the victim as Shannon Smith, 40, of Dandridge. It said Bush Brothers told them she was cleaning a pallet de-stacker in the Bush Brothers Chestnut Hill Plant in Jefferson County on April 23, 2018 at about 3 a.m.

The investigation found she climbed into an area under a scissor lift platform. The machine was left in automatic mode instead of manual mode which would have kept the machine from operating on its own.

Smith apparently activated an electric eye that put the scissor lift into motion, pulled her in and killed her.

The facility is near the Bush Bean's Visitor's Center, located on Chestnut Hill Road.

Bush Brothers is best known for its Bush's Best brand baked beans. The company headquarters is based in Knoxville but it operates plants in Chestnut Hill, Tennessee and Augusta, Wisconsin.

Before You Leave, Check This Out