Worker Killed at McWane Plant

Feb. 23, 2004
Kennedy Valve idled for OSHA investigation

Production was halted at Kennedy Valve, Elmira, NY, last Thursday after a maintenance worker was crushed to death. An accident investigation was underway over the weekend and work was to resume by Sunday.

Working alone on Thursday, Timothy Blow apparently slipped and fell into a sand-collection machine at the plant, according to an Associated Press report. Officials of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration were heading the investigation into the incident.

Kennedy Valve is division of Birmingham, AL-based McWane Inc.

A worker was killed in furnace explosion at the same plant in 1995. OSHA fined Kennedy Valve over $180,000 in 2003 for 24 workplace safety violations.