Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search


Español  Other Languages


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
 Search
		×
			NIOSH
			NIOSH
				All CDC
				Submit
			For a full list of topics:A-Z Index
			Advanced Search
		Advanced Search


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)








Contract Agricultural Worker Died After Being Engulfed by Tons of Nuts — California						Print
													Updated October 31, 2023
																	Related Pages
										California Case Report: 22CA004
Release Date: September 29, 2023

SUMMARY
On September 8, 2022, a 47-year-old Hispanic male agricultural contract worker (the victim) was working in a tree nut processing facility labeling large (2200 pound) sacks of nuts near the end of the night shift. He went in search
of shoe coverings, recalling that he had seen a box in an empty storage silo. When he did not return to his  workstation, the site supervisor went looking for him and noticed about 50-75 tons of nuts spilling out of the open access hatch to one of the 850 ton silos onsite.
The site supervisor called a team of co-workers to clean up the spill, and after a few minutes they found the unresponsive victim buried under the nuts. The site supervisor called 911 and several co-workers performed CPR until emergency services arrived. Paramedics arrived but were unable to revive the victim, and he died from asphyxiation.
**CONTRIBUTING FACTORS**
The staffing agency did not conduct a thorough Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) to identify hazards prior to  assigning their employee to the client site.
The staffing agency did not provide adequate training to their employee prior to assigning him to the client site.
The nut processing facility did not have a system in place to ensure filled silos were locked and inaccessible.**RECOMMENDATIONS**
California FACE (CA/FACE) investigators concluded that to help prevent similar occurrences, staffing agencies who provide temporary staffing, and operating nut processing facilities should:
Conduct a thorough JHA at their client’s facilities to identify all hazards to which their employees may be exposed and provide safety training to their employees prior to assignment.
Install inner doors inside of silo access hatches that swing inward to prevent catastrophic spillage.
Develop and implement a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for opening and entering silos.Contract Agricultural Worker Died After Being Engulfed by Tons of Nuts — California [PDF – 1 MB]
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  October 31, 2023						Source: 	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
					Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate homeWorkplace Safety and Health Topics
Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation(FACE) Programplus icon
New Content
About the Program
Investigations
NIOSH FACE Reports
State FACE Reports
Resourcesplus icon
Agriculture
Commercial Fishing
Construction
Energy Production
Landscaping
Logging
Robotics
Waste Management
Confined Space
Electrocution
Falls
Machine Related
Motor Vehicle
Trenching
Other
Crossing Guards
Hispanic
Youth
Contact Us To receive the NIOSH eNews newsletter, enter your email address: Email Address			What's this?				Submit
 Contact FACE Nancy Romano, M.S., CSHM
FACE Project Officer
Fatality Investigations Team
Division of Safety Research
NIOSHnioshface@cdc.gov **Press Inquiries**nioshmedia@cdc.gov
 Related Topics Traumatic Occupational Injuries
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program
Law Enforcement Officer Motor Vehicle Safety
 Follow NIOSH Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
YouTube
 NIOSH Homepage NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs
Contact NIOSH


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue