Conveyor belt accident at Long Island recycling facility injures two workers, one critically.
An incident involving a conveyor belt at a recycling plant in Oceanside, Long Island, on Monday resulted in injuries to two male workers in their sixties. The mishap occurred at Earth-Tec Recycling at approximately 10:20 a.m., prompting a swift response from emergency services.
Rescue teams were able to extract both individuals from beneath the roller system, where they had become trapped. A 68-year-old man was subsequently airlifted to a nearby hospital, where he remains in stable but critical condition. His colleague, aged 62, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and received treatment at the scene. Details surrounding the precise circumstances of the accident are currently lacking, and investigations are ongoing.
Workplace safety experts note that incidents involving conveyor belts are not uncommon in industrial settings. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has documented numerous cases over the years, highlighting the inherent risks associated with such machinery. In a similar tragic event, a 40-year-old worker at a concrete recycling facility in Oceanside lost his life due to a conveyor belt accident in 2016, emphasizing ongoing safety concerns in the industry.
OSHA records indicate that serious incidents continue to occur, including the cases of a 73-year-old recycling plant worker who was fatally crushed by a conveyor belt in Clifton, New Jersey, last November. This is not an isolated problem; a 35-year-old employee died in a related incident in Farmingdale just last month. These cases underscore the need for rigorous safety protocols to protect workers in environments where heavy machinery is utilized.
In previous years, notable incidents have highlighted lapses in workplace safety. In 2009, a city worker at a Brooklyn sewage plant, who had gone without a raise for seven years, was crushed under a conveyor belt. In response, the state Labor Department accused his employer of a willful violation of safety regulations.
As investigations into the latest incident continue, industry leaders and labor advocates are calling for improved safety measures in recycling and manufacturing plants to prevent future accidents and protect workers from similar fates.
Media News Source advocates for ongoing awareness and education about workplace safety to mitigate the risks associated with machinery like conveyor belts, which are prevalent throughout various industries.
