Franklin Kroger fined following employee death

FRANKLIN, Ind. (Daily Journal) - A Franklin Kroger store has been fined $17,000 for violating workplace safety laws last month when a warehouse accident led to the death of an employee .

An inspection by the Indiana Department of Labor revealed three violations all related to the stacking, arrangement and moving of materials on pallets. Two of the violations are listed as serious and the company had previously been fined for one of the violations in Georgia.

The Franklin store, 1700 Northwood Plaza, was inspected last month, after Lori Keen, 32, Franklin was injured when a pallet of bottled water fell on her while she was working in the warehouse.

She later died of her injuries.

The violations include:

• Industrial truck operators were not trained in load manipulation, stacking and unstacking. The violation was listed as serious and the fine is $3,500.
• Loads on industrial trucks were not stable or safely arranged. Stored material was not stacked, blocked, interlocked or limited in height so that it was stable and secure against sliding and collapse. This violation was listed as serious and as a repeat violation, since the company was cited for the same issue in Lilburn, Ga. The fine was $12,500.
• Loads were being handled that exceeded the capacity of the industrial truck. The violation was listed as non-serious and had a fine of $1,000.

The state is requiring the company to pay the fines within 15 days. Kroger must also correct any violations by May 18, according to the state's filing.

Thanks to the Johnson County Daily Journal for this story.