Dive Brief:
- Bumble Bee Foods agreed to pay a $6 million settlement after criminal charges in the death of an employee, who was accidentally cooked in an oven along with tuna products three years ago.
- Bumble Bee, its plant operations director Angel Rodriguez, and former safety manager Saul Florez each faced charges of three counts of violating Occupational Safety & Health Administration rules that caused a death.
- "If Bumble Bee complies with the terms of the settlement agreement with the district attorney’s office, the company will plead guilty after 18 months to one misdemeanor count," reports the LA Times.
Dive Insight:
The employee's family agreed to the settlement and will receive $1.5 million, but they can still choose to sue the company or receive worker's compensation funds. The company will pay $750,000 to the district attorney's Environmental Enforcement Fund plus an extra $750,000 in fines, penalties, and court expenses. Also, the company will shell out $3 million for new tuna ovens where workers don't have to enter them to make repairs.
As a record high payment of its kind in California (according to District Attorney Jackie Lacey), this case demonstrates the severity of accidental employee death for food and beverage companies. Not only do they face potential criminal charges for not ensuring the safety of their foods for consumers, but if companies do not protect their employees, they could see harsh penalties in court.