John Dunnivant’s work-related death could have been prevented. That’s how I see the findings of federal OSHA in the agency’s citations against his employer, Kia Motors. The 57-year old was working in October 2014 at the company’s plant in West Point, Georgia. The initial press reports indicated that Dunnivant was crushed by a stamping machine in the steel-press section of the facility. I wrote about the incident shortly after it was reported by local press.

Inspectors with federal OSHA conducted an inspection at the facility following the fatal incident. The agency recently issued citations to the firm for three serious and proposed a $9,180 penalty. Among others, Kia was cited for failing to have proper guarding on machinery (1910.212(a)(1)). The company paid the $9,180 penalty and OSHA’s case is closed.

When some local press initially reported John Dunnivant’s death, they called it an accident. An “accident” suggests the circumstances were unforeseen or could not have been avoided. OSHA’s findings tell a different story. Call it cutting corners, call it poor management, call it breaking the law. Whatever you want to call it, John Dunnivant’s work-related death could have been prevented, it was no accident.