NEW YORK (1010 WINS/ WCBS 880 NEWS) – A man was crushed to death while working at an auto parts store in New Jersey last week, according to the Woodbridge Police Department.
Ted Fitzgerald, the regional director for public affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor, confirmed that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the incident that happened on Dec. 28, 2023, at Fenix Parts Rahway in Woodbridge.
A 38-year-old worker at around 5:30 a.m. was crushed by a loading ramp inside the store, according to police.
OSHA confirmed with 1010 WINS that it has taken on the investigation and that it may take up to six months to complete.
Fenix Parts, the parent company of Fenix Parts Rahway, is a recycler and reseller of automotive parts and has 22 stores around the country.
The victim has not been identified.
Fenix Parts Rahway does have a prior history with OSHA.
The store was cited for three serious violations by the U.S. Department of Labor in 2019 all related to inadequate respiratory protection for workers which included not having a written respiratory program, failing to provide medical evaluations and necessary training for respirator use.
Initially fined $7,711, Fenix Parts Rahway contested and reduced the penalty to $5,783, as per agency records shared by Fitzgerald.
The fine was paid, and the case is now closed.
1010 WINS has reached out to Fenix Parts for a comment.
