Massachusetts Construction Company Pleads Guilty in Fatal Equipment Malfunction
A Massachusetts-based construction company, John Oliveira & Sons Stamp Concrete, Inc., has pleaded guilty to willfully violating workplace safety rules that led to the fatal death of an employee last year. The U.S. Attorney's Office announced the guilty plea on Tuesday, citing excessive safety hazards at the company's East Freetown worksite.
According to court documents, the company used a large soil screener with a malfunctioning tail conveyor, weighing nearly 1,500 pounds, which could be raised or lowered during operation. The machine had previously suffered a ruptured hydraulic pressure line and had closed unexpectedly on multiple occasions in the years leading up to the accident.
On September 6, 2023, an employee, identified as Josué Tiquiram, a migrant from Guatemala, was working alongside a company co-owner on the tail conveyor when it suddenly closed, crushing his head. There was no safety device in place to prevent the conveyor from closing, and the victim did not wear a helmet.
The company's president, Michael Oliveira, admitted to violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards through its own negligence. The U.S. Attorney's Office stated that by pleading guilty, John Oliveira & Sons faces up to five years of probation, a fine of up to $500,000, and restitution to the victim's estate.
The incident highlights the importance of workplace safety and the need for companies to prioritize employee well-being. "He should not be dead," said Maximo Tiquiram Quinilla, the victim's uncle, who witnessed the incident. "He wasn't wearing a helmet. The company doesn’t require that we wear a helmet."
The case is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of neglecting workplace safety protocols and highlights the importance of government oversight to protect workers' rights.
A Massachusetts-based construction company, John Oliveira & Sons Stamp Concrete, Inc., has pleaded guilty to willfully violating workplace safety rules that led to the fatal death of an employee last year. The U.S. Attorney's Office announced the guilty plea on Tuesday, citing excessive safety hazards at the company's East Freetown worksite.
According to court documents, the company used a large soil screener with a malfunctioning tail conveyor, weighing nearly 1,500 pounds, which could be raised or lowered during operation. The machine had previously suffered a ruptured hydraulic pressure line and had closed unexpectedly on multiple occasions in the years leading up to the accident.
On September 6, 2023, an employee, identified as Josué Tiquiram, a migrant from Guatemala, was working alongside a company co-owner on the tail conveyor when it suddenly closed, crushing his head. There was no safety device in place to prevent the conveyor from closing, and the victim did not wear a helmet.
The company's president, Michael Oliveira, admitted to violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards through its own negligence. The U.S. Attorney's Office stated that by pleading guilty, John Oliveira & Sons faces up to five years of probation, a fine of up to $500,000, and restitution to the victim's estate.
The incident highlights the importance of workplace safety and the need for companies to prioritize employee well-being. "He should not be dead," said Maximo Tiquiram Quinilla, the victim's uncle, who witnessed the incident. "He wasn't wearing a helmet. The company doesn’t require that we wear a helmet."
The case is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of neglecting workplace safety protocols and highlights the importance of government oversight to protect workers' rights.
! Companies gotta take responsibility for their employees' safety, you know? It's like, they got fined $500k, but what about the guy's life? 
I mean, a helmet wouldn't have saved him, but still... it's just not right. #JusticeForJosué #WorkplaceSafetyMatters #OSHAshouldDoBetter
. I mean, they pleaded guilty but still got to walk away with minimal punishment – only 5 years of probation and a fin of $500k? That's peanuts considering the life was lost 
. The company should've been shut down for good, in my opinion 
.
. I mean, come on, a 1,500 pound machine just sitting there waiting to crush someone 
? The fact that the company knew about the hydraulic pressure line rupture and tail conveyor issues yet did nothing about it is just unacceptable 
. It's like they didn't care about his life or well-being 
. The uncle of the victim, Maximo Tiquiram Quinilla, is right - the company shouldn't have required him to wear a helmet if they weren't going to provide proper safety measures.
. We need better regulations in place to protect workers like Josué Tiquiram who didn't stand a chance against a malfunctioning machine 
. This could have been prevented with some basic precautions and oversight 
.
I'm so annoyed when companies prioritize profits over people's lives like this 
. The fact that the company knew about the hydraulic pressure line issue and still didn't fix it is just ridiculous 
. It's not fair to the guy who lost his life, either - his uncle saying he wasn't wearing a helmet because it wasn't required is pretty sad 
.
. Government oversight is crucial here 
. Safety protocols are in place for a reason, folks! 
. I mean, can you imagine if someone's family had to go through what Maximo Tiquiram Quinilla went through? The thought of his nephew just... gone 
. They should be paying restitution and taking steps to prevent this from happening again, not just slapping them on the wrist with a fine 
I feel so bad for Josué Tiquiram's family - they shouldn't have to go through this.
thats exactly why these kinds of incidents happen, companies just get away with this stuff. hope the company owner gets some real punishment and changes there safety protocols ASAP 