A judge has ruled that there’s enough evidence to order a San Francisco company’s owner and one of its managers to stand trial for the death of a pregnant worker who was crushed by a creasing and cutting machine.
Digital Pre-Press International owner Sanjay Sakhuja and press room manager Alick Yeung face involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Margarita Mojica, 26, on Jan. 29, 2008.
Mojica was crushed in the machine that suddenly activated as she reached into it to set up a job.
The machine functions like a giant, mechanized clam shell. Rescuers had to be called to release Mojica from the machine. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cal-OSHA fined Pre-Press for failing to train workers on safety procedures, including locking out energy to machines before reaching into the equipment. The machine that crushed Mojica also lacked safety devices required by law.
Sakhuja, Yeung and the company are also charged with violation of state workplace safety laws in connection with a death.
The two men face up to four years in prison and fines up to $250,000, and the company could be fined up to $1.5 million.
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