Sunday, May 21, 2017

Syracuse Haulers Waste Removal Inc. in DeWitt, NY fined $17,397 by OSHA after Joseph P. Correia, 58, died when a steel container crushed his head












DEWITT, NY - Syracuse Haulers Waste Removal Inc. in DeWitt has been fined $17,397 by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration after an industrial accident claimed the life of a worker at the company in May 2016.

Joseph Correia, 58, of Syracuse, was working at Syracuse Haulers at 6223 Thompson Road in DeWitt on May 25, 2016 when he suffered a fatal head injury at about 7:45 a.m., according to police and OSHA findings.

Correia was steadying a steel container on the lift-gate of a 2005 Ford F550 when the container rolled off while he attempted to hold it back, OSHA said. The container then fell on the worker, crushing his head and leg. He died from head trauma, the report said.

OSHA originally proposed fines totaling $19,330 after citing Syracuse Haulers for two serious violations in connection with the incident, but reached a settlement with the company for $17,397, OSHA officials said.

A settlement includes the employer's acceptance of the citations, correction of the cited violations and payment of the penalties, said Ted Fitzgerald, speaking for the U.S. Department of Labor.

Fitzgerald said settlements often are reached to help ensure prompt and effective abatement of the cited hazards.

In this case, Syracuse Haulers has implemented detailed steps to address the hazards that were identified, and established a new procedure for the safe loading and unloading of vehicles, OSHA said.



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DEWITT, N.Y. -- Authorities have identified the employee who was killed last week in an industrial accident at a waste removal company.

DeWitt police said Joseph P. Correia, 58, of Syracuse, was working at Syracuse Haulers Waste Removal, 6223 Thompson Road, DeWitt, around 7:45 a.m. Wednesday when he suffered a critical head injury, police said.

East Syracuse firefighters and EAVES Ambulance responded. Correia was rushed to Upstate University Hospital where he died a short time later.

Police would not say what happened to Correia, but the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration said an employee was struck by a piece of equipment. 


Initial police scanner reports said a dumpster had fallen on a man; police declined to comment on those reports.

OSHA is continuing to investigate the circumstances of the accident.

OSHA records show no prior fatalities or serious accidents at Syracuse Haulers.

Following inspections in March and June 2015, however, OSHA cited Syracuse Haulers for five violations, three of which were later dropped. The company paid and $2,800 fine and corrected the problems, OSHA said.