Safety violations at Mosaic plant led to worker's 'preventable' death, federal investigators say

The U.S. Department of Labor has cited Mosaic Fertilizer for two "serious" safety violations, which OSHA investigators say contributed to the death of a 29-year-old worker at the company's Polk County plant last summer.

Death of Jameka Williams

The backstory:

Jameka Williams, 29, was working as a process operator at the Mosaic plant south of Mulberry in July 2024 when she fell into a machine, killing her, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.

Pictured: Jameka Williams. Courtesy: Angela Baker.

Pictured: Jameka Williams. Courtesy: Angela Baker.

Family members and friends of Williams spoke with FOX 13 in the days following the tragedy, saying she was a devoted mother and a hard worker who had been employed by Mosaic for nearly two years.

OSHA investigation

Big picture view:

In a statement released Thursday, OSHA said Mosaic "failed to follow required safety standards."

Investigators found that the company "did not ensure the rotating portion of the east and west industrial ribbon blenders – a device that mixes the finished fertilizer with a coating oil – had the proper guarding in place or secured."

What they're saying:

"This unfortunate incident could have been prevented had Mosaic Fertilizer LLC ensured all machines were secured and guarded," said OSHA Area Director Danelle Jindra. "In this case, the employer failed to protect workers as the law requires. No employee should lose their life because an employer neglects basic safety measures."

What's next:

OSHA proposed $30,649 in fines against Mosaic, in addition to issuing two serious violations.

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