San Francisco Workplace Injury Turns Deadly

Printing PressAs reported by the San Francisco Chronicle (click here), two individuals have plead guilty to charges from the workplace injury and death of an employee at Digital Pre-Press International in San Francisco.

The CEO and pressroom manager have both pleaded guilty to felony charges of manslaughter and violations of state workplace safety laws in the death of the worker (who was pregnant when she was killed).

Margarita Mojica was 26 years old, pregnant, married and had a young child at home when she was preparing a cutting and creasing machine for its next job. The machine suddenly started and Margarita was caught as she leaned in to work on the machine. The accident took place on Jan. 29, 2008. The machine was supposed to be shut off in between uses.

The company will be fined $50,000 to $150,000. And the sentences for the CEO and manager are unclear. According to reports, the CEO may face up to three years in prison but has not yet been sentenced. The manager has been sentenced to 150 hours of community service and workplace safety courses through Cal/OSHA.

Workplace injuries and the tragic deaths that too often result from these accidents cost our economy and workers billions annually in medical expense and lost productivity. And this says nothing of the more human costs associated with these workplace tragedies.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Ms. Mojica.

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