Worker dies at food packaging facility
Lori Turner, 41, reportedly was found unresponsive at her workstation at Anchor Packaging’s Paragould, Arkansas, factory. Turner later was pronounced dead at a nearby medical facility.
Investigation underway
Anchor Packaging representatives could not be reached for comment. However, the company issued a statement in response to the event, declaring, "We have notified, and are cooperating fully with, all authorities.”
Green County Coroner Dick Pace summoned a detective from the Paragould Police Department to the scene to investigate. After it was determined no criminal activity took place, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has taken charge of the investigation.
Prior incident
The Paragould facility, opened in 1985, has one previous brush with OSHA on the books; in November 2011, the agency levied a total of $10,000 in fines against the company in connection with an accident that cost a worker his hand. However, it was determined that the staffer had been drinking prior to his shift, and additional claims against the company were dropped.
FoodProductionDaily has been in contact with the coroner, Anchor Packaging, police, and the regional OSHA office about Turner's death. All were unable to comment, pending completion of the investigation; however, FPD will share updates on the site as soon as additional information about the incident is available.
