Chicago Heights Worker Killed In Metals Plant Accident

Worker fell into a large container Thursday at the Vesuvius Plant in Chicago Heights

An on-the-job tragedy struck a south suburban factory for the second time.

A worker fell into a large hopper Thursday morning at the Vesuvius Plant, on the 300 block of State Street in Chicago Heights, police said. Multiple emergency crews remained on the scene at noon for recovery efforts.

The worker, identified by the medical examiner's officer as Romelio Cruz, 60, of South Holland was pronounced dead at the scene. 

A director for the Occupational Safety & Health Administration said an OSHA investigator was on the scene but had very few details about what happened.

In January 2011 an employee fell from the roof at the plant and died. The company was cited for serious violations of OSHA standards. Vesuvius paid roughly $5,000 in an informal settlement.

A representative for the company has not returned calls seeking more information about the accident.
 

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