Gruesome Industrial Accident Kills Worker at Ohio Meat Processing Plant

A 62-year-old man died tragically on Saturday, after his leg became caught in a waste grinder at a meat processing plant in Canton, Ohio.

The horrific accident at the Fresh Mark plant, about 60 miles south of Cleveland, occurred shortly before 5:00 p.m. on December 16th.

According to the Stark County Coroner’s Office, Samuel Martinez stepped into a chute and became caught in a waste auger, a machine used to grind meat scraps.

The Guatemalan national was pronounced dead at the scene.

The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 17A indicated that Martinez was only recently employed at the Canton facility and had children. Several of his relatives also worked at the Fresh Mark plant.

Efforts were underway on Saturday to notify his extended family in Guatemala of his death.

OSHA Investigating Fresh Mark Death

Based in Massillon, Ohio, Fresh Mark, Inc. was founded in 1920 and produces bacon, ham, hot dogs and deli meats for grocery stores, restaurants, and food service companies in the United States and internationally.

“Our primary concern rests with the wellbeing of this employee’s family, as well as with the safety and wellbeing of all our employees in the Canton and other Fresh Mark facilities,” the company said in a statement issued on Saturday. “We are working with authorities to determine the facts regarding this incident.”

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is now investigating Saturday’s tragedy to determine if any safety violations contributed to Martinez’s death.