Worker Killed in Accident at Paper Plant

FRANKLIN, OH—Cheney Pulp and Paper is under investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) following Tuesday's death of employee Terry Ray, who was killed when he was crushed by equipment.

According to WHIO-TV in Dayton, OH, Ray, 48, was using a Bobcat skid-steer vehicle to unload a pulp dryer. Ray was apparently caught by a moving piece of the dryer, and the cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma.

An investigation by OSHA is expected to take about two to three months. The results of a toxicology report on Ray have not been provided yet. An OSHA spokesperson said it was too early to comment on whether the accident was caused by operator error or faulty machinery.

OSHA revealed nearly 30 workplace safety violations during a 2010 inspection, 18 of which were termed "serious" and one labeled "willful," meaning the company was aware but ignored certain regulations.