Machinist Killed in Lathe Accident

A North Carolina machinist was killed earlier this month as a metal rod departed the high-speed lathe on which he worked, striking and killing him.

The accident, which occurred at the Statesville machine shop facility of R.P Machine, happened as the victim, 62-year-old Leonard Key, of Mooresville, had been working on a lathe on the Cochran Street shop. A metal rod he was machining was ejected by the lathe at a high rate of speed and hit Key directly in the chest. He collapsed and was eventually pronounced dead at the scene.

Although the death was ruled accidental, an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, is ongoing.

Machinists have enough risks without adding to the risk by lack of training or absence of basic safety standards. Workers know some of the risks. But adding to those risks by individual negligence or under-training employees increases the on-the-job danger tremendously. If you or someone you love has been injured on the job through what you believe is negligence, The Doan Law Firm, P.C., led by Houston personal injury attorney Jimmy Doan, has extensive experience in worker’s compensation and workplace injuries. Contact The Doan Law Firm, P.C. today.