Authorities are investigating after a Canton workplace incident left a 32-year-old worker at a TimkenSteel plant dead Sunday of suspected suffocation.
Kenny Ray Jr. was found dead in a control room at the Faircrest Steel Plant, 4511 Faircrest Street SW. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reported nitrogen — which is used in the plant — had flooded the air, causing oxygen levels to drop to less than 4 percent in the area where he was found. Rapid suffocation can occur when oxygen levels dip below 19.5 percent, OSHA reported. Earth’s normal oxygen level is 21 percent.
“We offer our thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of the worker who died in a preventable workplace incident,” said Howard Eberts, OSHA’s area director, in a media release. “Companies that have nitrogen systems need to make sure that they recognize the hazard of oxygen deficiency that can be created by its ability to displace oxygen.”
Ray had worked for TimkenSteel for six months in the security and fire team. He also was a Creston police officer and a Uniontown firefighter and paramedic.
Lance Kimmell, security and fire manager at TimkenSteel, said in a statement that Ray was a well-respected team member and the business is working with investigators.
“TimkenSteel’s security and fire team and the entire company are mourning the loss of our colleague,” Kimmell said. “We want to express our sympathy to his family, friends and the people of the communities where Kenny served as both a police officer and firefighter.”
In a Facebook post, Creston police also expressed their condolences.
“This afternoon one of our new officers, Kenny Ray Jr., was found deceased at his fulltime job, TimkenSteel,” police wrote. “At this time there is no official cause of death. Kenny was immediately well liked and accepted by our department.”
OSHA is working with TimkenSteel’s engineers to determine if the nitrogen system has caused any other oxygen-deficient areas. It wasn’t the first time TimkenSteel had a nitrogen exposure situation: In November, it cited the company for one incident in May.
Investigators noted TimkenSteel plants “have an extensive OSHA history.” In October 2015, OSHA placed the company in the agency’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program after workers suffered falls, amputations and other injuries at the Harrison and Gambrinus plants. The company contested those violations.
TimkenSteel officials said the company has worked to strengthen its safety programs.
“We have been working with OSHA and our workforce on additional actions to strengthen our safety program. We have addressed every issue that OSHA has identified at our facilities over the past year,” said Tom Stone, vice president of industrial relations and environmental, health and safety. “Further, we hired an independent auditor to do assessments and took additional actions.
“We also engage employees in safety auditing and follow up on every concern. This is our highest priority.”
Nick Glunt can be reached at 330-996-3565 or nglunt@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickGluntABJ.