OSHA fines firm over ice machine death

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (AP) - A New Bedford seafood processing plant faces $66,800 in fines following a probe into the death of a worker who became caught in an industrial ice-making machine.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Northern Wind Inc. with nearly two dozen alleged violations of workplace safety standards.

Forty-year-old Joseph Teixeira (teh-SHEHR'-uh) was killed in May 4 when he got caught in the moving parts of the machine when it unexpectedly turned on while he was performing maintenance work.

OSHA says the company lacked procedures to make sure that the machine could not accidentally become active while employees were working inside.

Northern Wind has 15 days to appeal.

Company officials did not immediately return a call seeking comment.