One ordinary workday in central Florida, a young woman showed up to do her job, but things took a tragic turn. While collecting a sample, she fell into an industrial machine that did not have the proper safety guard on it. She did not survive.
It is the kind of accident that should never happen, yet it did. What’s more frustrating is knowing that it could have been prevented. She might still be here if the company had followed basic OSHA safety standards.
This workplace accident attorney in Haines City, Florida is going to explain more about this incident below, and we’ll also explain what families can do if something like this ever happens to someone they love.
The Mosaic Fertilizer accident
In July 2024, a 29-year-old woman working at the Mosaic Fertilizer plant in Mulberry, Florida, tragically lost her life. She was doing her job of collecting a routine sample when she fell into an unguarded ribbon blender. She did not do anything wrong, and yet she never got home.
OSHA investigated the incident and found that two ribbon blenders at the facility were unguarded. Because of that, Mosaic was hit with two serious safety violations and fined $30,649 total.
$30,649 can seem like a lot on paper, but no amount of money can ever come close to replacing a person’s life. It does not ease her family’s heartbreak, nor does it take away the pain of knowing this did not have to happen. If the company had followed the safety rules they were supposed to, that woman would still be alive today.
In situations like this, where a loss feels tragic and preventable, an experienced workplace accident attorney in Haines City, Florida can help families get the answers and support they deserve.
What exactly does OSHA do?
OSHA (short for “Occupational Safety and Health Administration”) is the federal agency in charge of making sure our jobs are not dangerous. Their job is to create safety rules and make sure companies follow them. They look at everything from how machines should be guarded, how chemicals should be stored, and how workers are trained.
If something at work could cause harm, OSHA probably has a rule about it. And if a company ignores those rules, OSHA can impose penalties.
When a company gets caught breaking OSHA rules, it can get fined. If someone gets seriously hurt or even dies because a company knowingly ignored the rules, the company might even face criminal charges.
But even when the penalties apply, they don’t match the emotional toll a family goes through after losing someone. A fine might be paid, and a violation might be listed, but that does not bring back a loved one or make the pain disappear.
What can families do after a tragedy?
Losing someone in a work accident is something no family should ever have to go through. And while there is no real way to prepare for something like that, there are steps families can take to start putting things in order.
First, there is workers’ compensation. This is a benefit that most employers are required to have. It can help cover immediate things like funeral expenses and a portion of the worker’s lost wages. But it does not fully replace the lost income and does not cover future needs like childcare, long-term bills, or emotional support.
Sometimes, families can also file a wrongful death lawsuit. This can happen when someone else besides the employer might be at fault, like a third-party contractor or the machine manufacturer. No amount of money can replace a person. However, holding the responsible parties accountable can give families some relief and support moving forward.
Of course, none of this is easy to figure out when you are grieving. An experienced workplace accident attorney in Haines City, Florida can walk families through it all and make sure they are not being pushed around or forgotten.
Looking for a Workplace Accident Attorney in Haines City, Florida?
If you’ve been injured or lost someone at work, now is the time to reach out to a trusted workplace accident attorney in Haines City, Florida. Tonya Stewart and her legal team at Tonya Stewart Law PA can handle all the legal work on your behalf to make sure that your rights are protected every step of the way. Contact us today at (863) 279-4473 to schedule a free case evaluation.