CLACKAMAS, Ore. -- The man killed at a Clackamas meat distribution plant after falling into a large meat blender Saturday has been identified as 41-year-old Hugo Avalos Chanon, of Portland, police said.
Deputies were called just beforemidnight to the report of a death at Interstate Meat Distributors, located at 9550 SE Last Road, said Deputy Marcus Mendoza of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.
Several workers from DCS Sanitation Management were cleaning the facility and equipment when Chanon apparently fell into a meat blender that was in operation, Mendoza said.
Another worker realized something was wrong and activated an emergency switch which stopped the equipment, Mendoza added. Unfortunately the worker (Chanon) was already deceased.
The sheriff's office was investigating, along with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
According to OSHA spokeswoman Melanie Mesaros, Interstate Meat Distributors was cited for several safety violations discovered between October, 2012, and January, 2013, including one that reads: Points of operation of machinery were not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone(s) during operating cycle(s).
The cleaning company, DCS, was inspected in 2001, 2002 and 2004 and found to have no OSHA violations.
Both companies were being investigated, Mesaros said.
Much like a police investigation we look at the scene, the equipment there, we do interviews with employees, look at relevant records, and what policies and procedures were in place for the type of work being done, she said.
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KGWReporter Mike Benner contributed to this report.
