North Carolina Company Fined for Fatal Workplace Accident

A Guilford County, North Carolina company has been fined more than $17,000 for violations found after the death of a teenager who became entangled in a grinder.

The News & Record of Greensboro, N.C., reported that the state Labor Department has fined Pallet Express Inc. $17,350 for violations found after the death of 17-year-old Nery Castaneda of Greensboro on Oct. 2, 2007.

Authorities said after the accident that Castaneda became entangled in a grinder used to dispose of obsolete pallets.

Pallet Express builds and sells wooden pallets. According to the company Web site, it also grinds them to dispose of them and to make mulch.

Owner Lynn Bell said Monday through a company employee that she wouldn’t comment.

The company has 15 working days to contest the citations, issued March 4, or pay the fines.

Information from: News & Record, http://www.news-record.com