LIME CITY — An industrial accident at a metals manufacturing plant in Perrysburg Township resulted in the death of an employee.
Shawn Howard, 45, Toledo, was pronounced dead on Friday at 5:55 p.m. by Perrysburg Township medics who were on the scene. He was transported to the Lucas County Coroner’s office.
The accident took place during the afternoon shift at Precision Strip Inc., 7401 Ponderosa Road.
Perrysburg Township police were called to the scene at 5:53 p.m.
“The individual was trapped in a machine and was killed as a result of the industrial accident,” Perrysburg Township Deputy Police Chief Matt Gazarek said
When police dispatch received the call from Precision Strip, that Howard was trapped in the machine, it was unknown whether or not he was breathing. When the officer arrived on the scene she found Howard “clamped between two Stacker 2 Conveyor Table Raisers,” and employees were attempting CPR.
According to statements made to the officer, Howard and another employee had been attempting to clear a backup in the conveyor machinery when an unanticipated automated shutdown of the unit occurred while Howard was inside the machine. No employees saw the accident take place and the operator attempting to clear the machine with Howard was above the machine.
Surveillance video footage from the camera located above the machine is being turned over to Perrysburg Township police.
Precision Strip is a steel processing manufacturer with headquarters in Minster, with 15 locations across six states.
Efforts to receive comment from Precision Strip went without response.
The case has been turned over to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for further investigation.
