A farm worker was crushed to death by machinery at a Wonderful Company orchard, prompting the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health to launch an investigation into the incident.
Cal/OSHA received a report that a Los Hills employee was pinned between stationary equipment and a mobile cart Monday morning, according to an email from the state agency. The employee died at 7:30 a.m., Cal/OSHA said.
The agency declined to release more information about the death, citing its ongoing investigation.
In an emailed statement, the Wonderful Company said “a contract employee tragically passed away in an almond harvest-related accident at one of our orchards in western Kern County.”
“We are deeply saddened by this terrible loss and offer support to his family, as well as our employees,” the statement said.
The company said it is conducting its own investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, United Farm Workers said it was aware of a worker “who was crushed to death while harvesting almonds.”
“Witnesses and family are struggling,” the post read.