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, recognize 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 brought 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 fatally injured on the job in April 2020 while working for Aacpl Llc. in Portland, Oregon after being 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

Nathaniel was my son, he was also a brother, uncle, cousin, and all-around beautiful person. Nathaniel was the type of person if you needed anything or needed him, he was there. He loved his family especially his mother, sister, brother, and niece. He loved playing his guitar, ukulele, and his harmonica. He loved to travel with his guitar on his back he was getting ready to walk the northern trails with friends all the way from Canada to Mexico. His heart was for-sure a Hippie. He loved peace and he tried to make everyone his friend. He would come home from Oregon every week to see his mother, sister, and niece he was our protector. He loved his hot Cheetos his family, his dog Arie and making food out of odd thing that were sometimes amazing to eat. Before he was killed, he was working towards going to college and become an engineer. He would say mom one day I am going to make it big and sit on a beach and just surf all day and you will never have to work as hard as you do. He would always come in my office and say "Mom you need a vacation I would say no I want to make my kids proud of me." He would say, "Mom you are so silly I am proud of you already."Nathaniel was truly an amazing soul in which his family misses him every day.

We love you Nathaniel and your family will continue to fight for justice.  You were so special to everyone you touched.- Mom, Dawnetta Garcia

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 after 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 fatally injured 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 and passed away from a 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 fatally injured on the job in August 2010 while working for Sonoco Recycling in Salisbury, North Carolina after he was crushed when an 800lbs. 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 wife Angela.

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

Brian D Allen, 49

Brian was fatally injured 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 passed away 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 fatally injured on the job in March 2012 while working for Menard's Distribution Center Fleet Department in Plano, Illinois. He was found crushed 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 fatally injured 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.

This was not in OSHA's jurisdictions.

The photo was sent in by Kevin’s wife, Tamara Anderson.

~ 3/16/1961-7/3/2019 ~

Kevin John Anderson, 58

Kevin was fatally injured on July 3, 2019 while working for Columbia Grain International, LLC in Arvilla, North Dakota.  Mr. Anderson was cleaning out a 500,000 bushel grain bin, with 8-12 feet of corn left in the bin, when he became entrapped and suffocated. At the time of the accident, the company lacked proper safety processes, procedures, safety equipment and rescue equipment.

North Dakota OSHA investigated the incident and proposed a $191,322.00 penalty for 5 serious, 1 willful and 2 other violations. In an informal settlement, the penalty was reduced to $128,024.00 for 4 serious, 1 willful and 3 other violations.

Inspection: 1413904.015 - Columbia Grain International Llc

Kevin was a hard worker and put great effort into completing his work tasks. His greatest work passion was breeding, raising and milking dairy cattle. His stories, sense of humor and generosity are greatly missed. He left behind his wife Tamara, parents, 4 siblings and their spouses and numerous extended family members.

Even though the family has gone through many emotions as they grieve and continue to miss Kevin, forgiveness is in their hearts. They are grateful for the kind and caring OSHA Representative that walked them through the investigation process as they waited for answers. They continue with thoughts and prayers to Kevin’s co-workers, who so quickly tried to save him and risked their own lives. And last, they believe that this was a “wake-up call” for the company to change and improve the safety for their current and future employees.

All workers should feel safe and go home each night to their families and all families should never have to experience the pain of their loved one not coming home from work because of a work accident.

This photo was sent in by his wife Kathy Andresen.

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

Jason Paul Andresen, 45

Jason was fatally injured 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 fatally injured on the job in April 2015 while working for Gehring Construction & Ready Mix Co. in Schuyler, Nebraska. He was fatally injured 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 wife Mary Archer.

~ 2/18/1971-11/03/2021 ~

See Patrick Archer's
Memorial Page

Patrick Archer, 50

Patrick was fatally injured on the job in November 2021 while working at Ford Motor Company in Lima, Ohio while he was working inside a machine.

OSHA has completed their inspection and the citations are being contested. The case is still considered opened.

Inspection: 1562095.015 - Ford Motor Company 

"Patrick loved without hesitation, without resistance, without reservation, and without prejudice. His love was genuine, sincere, and perfect and was such a blessing to whomever was privileged to experience it.
He felt his purpose in this life was to provide for his family and made so many sacrifices to make sure that happened. Taking care of his loved ones and friends was most important to him. He was a man of his word, would light up a room with his smile, and loved with his whole being. He was thoughtful, caring, compassionate, so smart, loving, funny, passionate, and a really bad speller. He was one of the good ones.
Words cannot describe how lost I feel without him. He was my constant, my reason, my soulmate. I love him still and will for the rest of my life. And I will fight for him until. " Mary Archer, wife.

This photo was sent in by his mother Leticia Armendariz

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

Jesus Manny Armendariz, 23

Jesus was fatally injured on the job in June 2014 while working at Michael Foods Egg Production Company in Wakefield, Nebraska. He was fatally injured 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 fatally injured 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