Dive Brief:
- Bumble Bee foods and two employees face criminal charges for the death of a worker inside an industrial pressure cooker in 2012.
- The company and the employees were charged with three counts of committing an occupational safety and health violation that caused a death. The charges were filed Monday by the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.
- The victim was repairing the cooker Oct. 11, 2012 when other workers loaded carts filled with six tons of tuna cans into the oven and turned it on.
Dive Insight:
The criminal charges are a considerable step above what is generally seen in the wake of an industrial accident. In a news release, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said the case "represents our commitment to protecting workers from illegal -- and potentially, deadly -- on-the-job practices."
The company said it was "disappointed by the charges," according to the Los Angeles Times, and it noted the California Division of Occupational Safety & Health has not cited Bumble Bee for any willful violations.
Bumble Bee's former safety manager and its director of plant operations were charged, along with the company as a whole. The charges for the individuals carry a prison sentence of up to three years and/or a fine of up to $250,000. Bumble Bee could be fined up to $1.5 million.