Glass plant fined in death

By Christian Hill | The Olympian • Published December 04, 2008

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The state Department of Labor and Industries has cited the operator of a Tumwater glass plant with two serious violations of workplace safety rules after a worker died.

Christopher Benson, 23, of Lacey tripped on the plant floor at Cardinal Coated Glass in the early morning hours of Aug. 18, and his neck hit the edge of a pane of glass that was coming off of the line. The glass severed Benson's left carotid artery, one of the main arteries that delivers oxygenated blood to the brain, the coroner's office said. He died at the scene.

Benson fell after tripping on a metal set of two steps to reach the work area. An investigation by the state agency concluded the steps violated workplace safety rules because they were too narrow and too far apart.

The state agency fined Cardinal a total of $3,500. The company has until Dec. 17 to appeal.

A plant official did not return a phone message seeking comment Wednesday. A company vice president at Cardinal Glass Industries' headquarters in Minnesota declined comment.

Elaine Fischer, an agency spokeswoman, said the investigation determined that Benson was rushing up the stairs at the time he tripped. The investigation is closed.

Jennifer Padgett, Benson's mother, said her son always moved fast.

"It wasn't that he was being careless," she said. "It was just the way he was."

Padgett also said her son sometimes didn't wear a neck guard because it didn't fit him properly.

A trust fund has been set up for Benson's young son, Andrew. Cardinal contributed to the fund and paid for Benson's funeral, she said.

The Tumwater plant is part of Minneapolis-based Cardinal Glass Industries Inc., which owns more than 20 glass-manufacturing centers nationwide.

The plant treats glass used for windows with a metallic coating that keeps out heat in the summer and acts as insulation in the winter.

Cardinal Glass Industries also operates a plant in Winlock that manufactures untreated glass, and another plant in Chehalis, which produces tempered glass.

Fischer has said the number of worker compensation claims filed by Cardinal Glass workers in the state is lower than the industry average.

Christian Hill covers Lacey and Thurston County for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5427 or at chill@theolympian.com.