MARCH 11, 2015
HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA
A worker in the dyeing plant of clothing manufacturer
American Apparel was injured yesterday when one of his hands got stuck in
a machine, authorities said.
County firefighters were called to 12537 South Cerise Avenue
in Hawthorne at 5:18 a.m., said Inspector Rick Flores.
An Urban Search and Rescue team was summoned to get the
unidentified man’s arm out of the “large machine,” Flores said. The extrication
was completed by 6:36 a.m. and he was hospitalized in stable condition,
according to a company official.
Los Angeles-based American Apparel issued a statement saying
the company was “deeply saddened to announce that there was an industrial
accident at our dyeing plant today.”
“This has touched all of us at American Apparel,” the
statement says. “Our thoughts are with our employee and we have extended our
full support to him and his family during this very difficult time.Employee
safety is one of our highest priorities and we are committed to continue
maintaining a safe working environment. We are thoroughly investigating this
incident to understand all the facts.”
Flores said that Cal-OSHA was also going to investigate the
workplace injury.