A technician at the Nissan plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, was killed last weekend, marking the second fatal accident to take place at the vehicle assembly plant in just two months. According to Nissan spokesperson Justin P. Saia, 43-year-old Michael Hooper, a maintenance technician who had worked for Nissan for 21 years, was killed at about 1:30 a.m. on June 16, in the body assembly area of the plant, and authorities are now investigating the fatal work accident. If you have suffered on-the-job injuries in Tennessee, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal workplace accident, contact our reputable attorneys at Michael D. Ponce & Associates to explore your possible compensation options. Our lawyers have years of experience protecting the rights of injured workers throughout TN, and will work diligently to help you seek fair and timely compensation for your injuries.
“The safety and well-being of our team members is Nissan’s top priority,” said Saia on the day of the tragic fatality. “The company is working with authorities to investigate today’s incident and is doing everything possible to support those affected in the aftermath of this devastating event.” The death of longtime Nissan employee Hooper comes only two months after a contract worker with the company was killed on April 25, when a large electrical panel fell while it was being transported in one of the plant’s paint areas. The death of Michael Hooper is yet another example of the tragic consequences that can occur when workers aren’t provided with a safe and healthful environment in which to work. Whether Hooper’s employer is actually to blame for the fatal work accident is yet undetermined, but the cause of the incident is currently under investigation.
Since 2010, the Nissan vehicle assembly plant has been the subject of three work safety complaints and one referral to the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The Tennessee plant was fined $4,000 in 2012, after a 2010 referral found two serious workplace safety violations regarding “control of hazardous energy.” According to federal workplace safety regulations, this standard involves “the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment in which the unexpected…start up of the machines or equipment or release of stored energy could harm employees.” If you have been injured in a work-related accident in Nashville, or elsewhere in Tennessee, consult our knowledgeable lawyers at Michael D. Ponce & Associates today for legal help. With our qualified attorneys on your side, you can protect your legal rights and pursue the compensation you deserve for your injuries and medical bills.
Source: http://www.newschannel5.com/story/22605323/technician-killed-in-accident-at-nissan-plant