Bumble Bee Foods have recently agreed to pay $6 million to settle criminal charges due the death of a worker who was cooked in an oven with over 6 tons of tuna.
District Attorney Jackie Lacey said that this settlement is the largest payout in a California workplace-violation death.
Jose Melena died at the factory three years ago in a 35 foot long, 270 degree oven at the seafood company’s plant after a co-worker mistakenly believed he was in the bathroom.
The father of six was making repairs inside the pressure cooker when other workers plowed 12,000 pounds of tuna inside, closed the doors and then proceeded to turn it on.
Florez, 42, of Whittier was sentenced to three years of probation and will face fines and penalties of about $19,000 after pleading guilty to a single felony count of violating a workplace safety rule that caused a death.
Rodriguez, 63, of Riverside, agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor in 18 months and pay about $11,000 after he completes 320 hours of community service and worker safety courses.
