A computer support technician at a communications company went to the loading dock to retrieve a shipping box, mistakenly thrown into the stationary trash compactor.

He turned on the compactor’s key and the ram inside the chamber raised. With the ram at the top of its stroke, he leaned over the loading sill to look inside. The access door interlock switch was malfunctioning and the compactor operated even with the door open. The ram moved down to complete its cycle, struck and crushed him against the sill.

A co-worker nearby heard him groan, and found him. Two coworkers lifted the victim out. Emergency medical service personnel arrived within minutes and found him dead from his crushed chest, crushed abdomen and broken back.