USMWF knows and understands a picture is worth a thousand words.  We are grateful to the families of our fallen workers that have joined the cause and shared the picture and story of their loved one in our USMWF Face Campaign Tribute page.

The tributes are to honor and remember their loved one and to gain a connection between you,  our viewers and the importance of workplace safety, whether that connection be a similar job, work in the same industry, same age or even someone that reminds you of a loved one.  We want you to share our loved one’s stories to ultimately prevent similar incidents from occurring. 

We are the reality of the importance of workplace safety.  It happened to us…...it can happen to anyone.  We invite you to spread the awareness, the stories, the impact with others as together we can make a difference.

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This photo was sent in by her fiance' Torrence Jones, Sr.

~ 4/13/2020 ~

MiChelle Abernathy, 52

MiChelle became ill on the job in April 2020 and succumbed to the illness while working for Elisabeth Ludeman Developmental Center in Park Forest, Illinois. She is believed to have contracted the COVID-19 virus while at work.

Torrence Jones, Sr. - We were scheduled to be married. I, Torrence C Jones Sr. met MiChelle last September working for the State of Illinois. I was one of her instructors she bought joy and happiness to everyone she was around.  She leaves behind her loving mother who has become my best friend Barbara and her sister Carrie who is the backbone of the family

His photo was sent in by his mother Dawnetta Garcia.

~2/16/1996-4/17/2020~

Nathaniel Matao Acosta (Nate Dog), 24

Nathaniel was killed on the job in April 2020 while working for Aacpl Llc. in Portland, Oregon.  He was shot by his co-worker while remodeling or construction.

OSHA investigated the incident and proposed a $500 penalty for one other than serious violation.  This case is now closed.

Inspection: 1479572.015 - 317727408 - Aacpl Llc

We love you Nathaniel and your family will continue to fight for justice.  You were so special to everyone you touched.
Click Here to see his tribute.

This photo was sent in by his wife Linda Ailstock.

~ 5/13/1957 -2/20/2018 ~

James Ailstock, 60

James was injured on the job in February 2018 and died a day later while working for American Service Lines in Kearney, Nebraska. He was struck by a truck while working.

Linda - OSHA investigated American Service Lines. No fines rendered.
Rationale: No rules for parking lots at businesses you visit was their reasoning. They did not investigate meat packing plant. They did suggest truck drivers wear reflective jackets when out of truck. (that would not have helped in his situation because the driver of pickup wasn't looking where he was backing up).

This inspection is closed.

This photo was sent in by his mom Carrie Meitzner-Akard.

~1/23/2000-7/18/2019~

Terence Wade Akard, 19

Terence was killed on the job in July 2019 while working for Dfw Ponds, Inc. in Graham, Texas.  He was active in heavy construction work, constructing a new pond. It was approximately 96 degrees and he became ill.  He died of heat stroke.

OSHA investigated the incident and proposed a $16,102 penalty for one serious and one other than serious violation. In an informal settlement the penalty was reduced to $9,661 for one serious and one other than serious violation.  This case is now closed.

Inspection: 1419298.015 - Dfw Ponds, Inc.
For hours they disregarded and made fun of Terence's obvious signs of heat stroke. 911 was never called. When Terence was unconscious they did not call 911 or take him to the hospital 10 minutes away. Instead, they drove him nearly an hour home and from there, at his father's insistence, drove him 30 more minutes to a hospital where he was pronounced dead of heat stroke.

Every day I mourn my son, every single day, and so it will be for the rest of my life.  His life was full of potential, and it was taken from him due to negligence by his employer.  I will always be proud of who Terence was. When he died, he was working a summer job before starting college in the Fall. He was a loving, friendly, and dedicated young man.  He was a Navy Sea Cadet and on his high school robotics team. He planned on going into robotics as a career and had been offered a scholarship from the U.S. Air Force.  Terence was also active with the youth in his church.  His life was taken from him through no fault of his own.  -Carrie Meitzner-Akard, Mom

This photo was sent in by his widow Mary Ann Neely Alexander.

~ 12/22/1969 - 8/27/2010 ~

Maurice J. Alexander, 40

Maurice was killed on the job in August 2010 while working for Sonoco Recycling in Salisbury, North Carolina. He was crushed when an 800 lb. bale of cardboard fell onto him.

NCDOL investigated the incident and proposed a $11,900.00 penalty for two serious violations. In an informal settlement the penalty was reduced to $9,520.00 for two serious violations. This inspection is closed.

Inspection: 314912312-Sonoco Recycling.

Maurice laid trapped beneath an 800 lbs. bale of cardboard. He had been using a forklift to move the bales, and when he jumped down to adjust the machine, one came crashing down on top of him. No one knows how long he struggled to stay alive at Sonoco Recycling.

This photo was sent in by his by widow Angela.

~ 5/1/1964 - 10/24/2013 ~

Brian D Allen, 49

Brian was killed on the job in October 2013 while working for Larry Strate Plumbing & Heating (Strate Plumbing, Holden Mo) in Lees Summit, Missouri. He was installing a residential sewer line to the city sewer and died in a 17ft trench collapse.
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Federal OSHA investigated the incident and proposed a $35,000.00 penalty for five serious violations. In an informal settlement the penalty was reduced $5,600.00 penalty for two serious violation. This inspection is closed.

Inspection: 944282.015 - Larry Strate Plumbing & Heating.

This photo was sent in by his daughter Jet Cytrych.

~ 4/17/1955 - 3/27/2012 ~

Evaristo Alvarado, 57

Evaristo was killed on the job in March 2012 while working for Menard's Distribution Center Fleet Department in Plano, Illinois. He was found crushed to death between the forklift and the lifting mechanism.

Federal OSHA investigated the incident and no violations were issued. This inspection is closed.

Inspection: 280614.015 - Menard

Evaristo Alvarado of Sandwich, IL. Born on April 17, 1955 and left us too soon on March 27, 2012. He worked at Menard's Distribution Center in Plano, IL in the Fleet Department as a mechanic for most of the Menard's stores. He was found crushed to death between the forklift and the lifting mechanism in an empty storage lot in the back of Sycamore, Il's Menard's store. He was pronounced dead on the scene by the coroner. To this day Menard's has not contacted my mother about anything.

This photo was sent in by his daughter.

~ 2/22/1956 - 1/8/2015~

Margarito Alvarez, 58

Margarito was killed on the job in January 2015 while working for Harlingen Irrigation in Harlingen, TX. He was working with two other employees repairing a backhoe when the machine's arm swung around and struck him, pinning him between it and the machine. Mr. Alvarez was crushed to death.

This was not in OSHA's jurisdictions.

This photo was sent in by his wife Kathy Andresen.

~4/18/1975-12/11/2020~

Jason Paul Andresen, 45

Jason was killed on the job in December 2020 while working for Ozinga Ready Mix Concrete Inc. in Middlebury, Indiana.  Mr. Andresen was found in the barrel of a mixer truck that was being used to pour wet cement. Indiana OSHA has opened an inspection and the case is currently open. Information will be updated upon completion of the inspection.

Inspection: 1506615.015 - 111566 - Ozinga Ready Mix Concrete

Jason was a Union Member of Indiana Teamsters Local 364.
Jason reported the problems with his truck, they took his truck “fixed” his truck and give it back to him and now he is dead!

This photo was sent in by his wife Dorothy.

~ 2/14/1989 - 4/11/2015 ~

Craig Anderson, 26

Craig was killed on the job in April 2015 while working for Gehring Construction & Ready Mix Co. in Schuyler, Nebraska. He was killed when he was struck by chain that was pulling a vehicle.

Federal OSHA investigated the incident and proposed a $14,630.00 penalty for two serious violations and one other than serious violation.  These penalties and citations were not reduced. This inspection is closed.
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Inspection: 1053578.015 - Gehring Construction And Ready Mix Concrete, Inc.

This photo was sent in by his mother Leticia Armendariz

~ 7/20/1990 - 6/19/2014 ~

Jesus Manny Armendariz, 23

Jesus was killed on the job in June 2014 while working at Michael Foods Egg Production Company in Wakefield, Nebraska. He was killed when he was over come by fumes. Jesus was taking samples inside a tanker truck that held egg products and nitrogen before he was found unresponsive.

Federal OSHA investigated the incident and proposed a $30,900.00 penalty for five serious violations. In an informal settlement the penalty was reduced to $21,510.00 for four serious violations. This inspection is now closed.

​​Inspection: 981715.015 - Michael Foods, Inc.

This photo was sent in by his mother Kim Augeri.

~ 6/3/1977 - 6/3/2008 ~

Robert Augeri, 31

Robert was killed on the job in June 2008 while working for Brox Industries, Labor Union Local 175 in Dracut, Massachusetts. He was struck by a truck while working.

Federal OSHA investigated the incident and proposed a $14,700.00 penalty for three serious violations. In an informal settlement the penalty was reduced to $10,000.00 for three serious violations. This inspection is closed.
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Inspection: 312187446 - Brox Industries