Worker suffers fatal injuries after falling into unguarded blender, fertilizer manufacturer fined $31K
An OSHA investigation has determined that Mosaic Fertilizer LLC could have prevented the death of a 29-year-old process operator at its Mulberry, Florida, facility. The accident occurred in July 2024. According to the agency, the fertilizer manufacturer did not ensure the rotating portion of the east and west industrial ribbon blenders had the proper guarding in place or secured. The employee was attempting to collect a sample when he fell into the blender and suffered fatal injuries. Mosaic Fertilizer LLC was cited for two serious violations and will have to pay $30,649 in penalties.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, OSHA Area Director Danelle Jindra said, “This unfortunate incident could have been prevented had Mosaic Fertilizer LLC ensured all machines were secured and guarded. In this case, the employer failed to protect workers as the law requires. No employee should lose their life because an employer neglects basic safety measures.”
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About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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