HALL COUNTY, Neb.— Gavin Schwartz, a 20-year-old Grand Island man, tragically died Feb. 7 after he was injured while working at the Mid-Nebraska Disposal facility about 3 miles west of Grand Island.
Schwartz fell into a baler machine at the facility and became stuck, according to local officials who responded to the scene at about 2:50 p.m.
Emergency personnel transported Schwartz to CHI Health St. Francis hospital for treatment, but he sadly succumbed to his injuries.
Authorities do not suspect that foul play was involved in the accident, though their investigation is ongoing.
Mid-Nebraska Disposal is a family-owned disposal business based in Grand Island that serves residential, commercial, construction and industrial customers. The accident occurred at its facility on Blender Road.
Commentary on the Fatal Workplace Accident at Mid-Nebraska Disposal
A preventable accident leaves another man dead, and a family left behind grieving. Undoubtedly, the Schwartz family is searching for answers as they deal with their great loss. As an investigation into the events leading to the accident is underway, several questions need to be raised to provide this family with the answers they deserve.
First and foremost, we need to know what steps Mid-Nebraska Disposal took to prevent accidents like this from happening. Every employer has a duty to provide their employees with a work environment free of serious risk. That duty must be a top priority when a workplace is inherently dangerous because of mechanical equipment. We can determine how seriously Mid-Nebraska Disposal took employee safety by looking at the company’s safety procedure, safety training, and past behavior. Did Mid-Nebraska Disposal have a safety culture, or did they disregard known risks in pursuit of efficiency?
We also need to know the circumstances leading to Mr. Schwartz’s fall. Was this young man working alone or in a group? Was Mr. Schwartz performing a routine duty or a special assignment? The more we know about the circumstances leading to the fall, the more we can understand the risk Mr. Schwartz undertook on behalf of his employer.
I am not looking to blame Mid-Nebraska Disposal if no blame is due. However, the Schwartz family has suffered a great loss and deserves to know exactly what happened. If the company could have prevented this tragedy from occurring, the family deserves to know.
Disclaimer: On our blog, we report on recent catastrophic accidents to begin important conversations about consumer safety. If these resources are found to include any false or outdated information, we invite you to contact The Ammons Law Firm as soon as possible so we may correct the issue. This content should not be construed as legal counsel or advice.