A company working on Enbridge’s Line 3 is facing some serious fines for a worker’s death late last year.
The Star Tribune reports Precision Pipeline was cited and fined $25,000 by Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration for the worker’s death.
The violation relates to a rule that says companies must ensure industrial truck operators are competent enough to run their vehicles.
Forty-five-year-old Jorge Villafuerte was checking a material list while standing behind an industrial forklift when the machine started backing up, running him over. The forklift driver said Villafuerte was in a blind spot.
The Utah man was dead by the time first responders arrived, and he leaves behind nine children.
Precision Pipeline is the general contractor for the Line 3 project, which, when completed, will be able to transport 760,000 barrels of crude oil per day to a Superior, Wisc., refinery.
The Star Tribune also reported the contractor plans to contest the MN OSHA violation.
Enbridge expects the new Line 3 to be operating later this year.
