Sayreville factory accident kills man

[Omaha Steve]

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Home News Tribune Online 04/12/08

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By KEN SERRANO
STAFF WRITER
[e-mail]

SAYREVILLE — A factory worker who tried to fix a jammed machine at a plastic manufacturing plant on Main Street died after the machine restarted and crushed him, police said.



Gonzalo Mera, 48, of Plainfield, suffered a severe head injury during the accident that occurred at Sabert Corporation about 7:50 p.m. Wednesday, police said.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating Mera's death. OSHA has fined the company in the past for "lockout/tagout" violations. Those type of violations include lapses in which energy is not shut off to disabled machines while under repair, an OSHA official said.

A spokeswoman for Sabert did not immediately return calls.

The plant, located at 879 Main St., manufactures plastic dining ware.

Detective Sgt. David Lasko of the Sayreville Police Department said Mera was "When he went in to unjam it, it wasn't turned off," Lasko said.

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